Which? Newshttps://www.which.co.uk/news
Latest consumer newsThu, 21 Mar 2019 18:06:05 +0000en-GBhourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.3Eurostar warns Paris passengers not to travel until Aprilhttps://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/eurostar-warns-paris-passengers-not-to-travel-until-april/
Thu, 21 Mar 2019 15:03:19 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=168268Eurostar has told passengers using its trains to Paris not to travel until at least April due to ongoing industrial action by French customs at Gare du Nord station in Paris.

There have been queues of up to six hours for passengers departing the French capital amid major delays and train cancellations, prompting some holidaymakers to wonder if this is a taste of travel to the EU this summer if there is a no-deal Brexit.

French customs’ officers are asking for higher pay, better working conditions and more staff to cope when Britain leaves the European Union. Since earlier this month checks on passengers have become much more rigorous than previous methods, to highlight, according to French union leaders, the lack of preparedness for Brexit.

What can you do if you’re affected?

Eurostar is urging passengers not to travel unless absolutely necessary and warns that its priority check-in service is also suspended. A full list of disrupted trains can be found here.

Instead, the train company is offering anyone travelling up to 30 March a full refund or a free change to travel at a later date.

If you do decide to travel and your train is delayed or cancelled you may be entitled to compensation.

With no advertising, we produce independent and unbiased reporting on the travel issues that matter, from dodgy holiday deals to insurers that don’t pay out. Find out more about Which? Travel.

A pain by plane

Anyone hoping to still travel from London to Paris this weekend by plane instead is going to have to dig deep. When we looked, last minute British Airways’ flights from London Heathrow to Charles de Gaulle travelling out on Friday evening and returning on Sunday evening were £772 per person and upwards. And Air France’s flights from Paris to London on Sunday were all full after lunchtime.

Recent research by Which? Travel revealed that UK passengers flying to Spain could face queues of several hours in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Alicante airport in southern Spain would need the staff and resources to deal with an estimated additional 201 hours of immigration checks on British passport holders, on average, every single day.

The European Tourism Association (Etoa) has estimated that additional checks could add an extra 90 seconds for each UK passport holder. To put that in context, it would take a single passport lane an extra 17,010 seconds – nearly five hours – to process the 189 passengers on a single Ryanair flight, if all those passengers were UK passport holders.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Eurostar_Lead-2.jpgRevealed: £354m lost in bank transfer scams in 2018https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/revealed-354m-lost-in-bank-transfer-scams-in-2018/
Thu, 21 Mar 2019 11:58:27 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=168155More than £354m was stolen from banking customers and small businesses through sophisticated bank transfer scams in 2018 – with only £83m ever recovered and returned to victims.

New figures from UK Finance, the banking trade body, revealed that £209m was lost to bank transfer fraud in the second half of 2018 – a marked increase from the first half of the year, when some £145m was lost.

Bank transfer fraud – when a victim is tricked into sending money to a scammer from their bank account – has seen people losing life-changing sums of money, with no hope of getting it back.

Last month, several major banks signed up to a new code that includes a reimbursement scheme. But the code is only voluntary, and Which? is calling on all payment providers to sign up.

UK Finance also revealed that losses from unauthorised fraud, where money is taken from your account or card without your permission, totalled £845m in 2018, up 16% on 2017. But banks prevented a further £1.66bn from being stolen.

Find out more about the scale of bank transfer fraud, and what protections banks have put in place.

How much is lost to bank transfer scams?

In total, £228m was stolen from individuals during the course of 2018, while a further £126m was taken from businesses.

However, the vast majority of cases involved people being scammed, rather than companies – there were a total of 84,624 cases over the year, of which 92% involved personal accounts.

Banks managed to recover £52m from the fraudsters in the second half of the year, just 24% of what was lost – around the same success rate as over the first six months, when £31m was recovered.

How does bank transfer fraud happen?

In some cases, the fraudster impersonates someone you trust – for example, your solicitor – and sends through an invoice for payment to their account. Fraudsters will also pose as well-known companies or organisations, including HMRC or the DVLA, and ask you to pay a bill or outstanding fine.

Can you claim compensation?

Currently, when you fall for a scam, the level of protection you have will depend on how you paid the fraudster. If you paid by credit card, you can usually reverse the payment under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

And if the funds were taken from your account without your authorisation, your bank will normally refund you.

But if you pay by bank transfer, then realise you’ve been tricked, it’s more difficult to get your money back.

Victims will have more protections from May 2019. A new voluntary code has been introduced requires banks, building societies and other payment services providers to put measures in place to protect customers from bank transfer fraud – and those that fail to do so will need to reimburse victims.

Under the rules, banks are required to take steps to detect payments that are at high risk of involving a scam, provide warnings to customers about the risks of money transfers, and identify customers who might be vulnerable. Banks must also delay or freeze payments they suspect might have come about from a scam.

If any of the banks involved in the transaction don’t meet these standards, your bank will be required to reimburse you. You should be told within 15 business days of reporting the scam whether you’re receiving a refund.

In some cases, it may be that neither the banks, nor the victim, are to blame. These victims will still be reimbursed under the code, with a small number of banks supporting a compensation fund.

But this will only last until the end of 2019 unless a more permanent arrangement is agreed, and there’s a risk this group of people could miss out in future.

New rules for bank customers

The new rules also put obligations on customers to be vigilant when making bank transfers.

Your bank may refuse you a refund if it finds:

You ignored warnings about scams when setting up and amending payees, or before making a payment

You did not take care to establish that the person you were sending money to was legitimate

You were ‘grossly negligent’ – although this is very difficult to define

You’re a small business or charity and did not follow internal procedures for making payments

You acted dishonestly when you reported the scam

If you’re unhappy with the way the banks have dealt with your case, you can escalate it to the Financial Ombudsman Service. You can complain about either your bank, or the bank to which you sent money.

Scheme to warn customers of fraud risk

As part of the code, banks are being required to introduce new technology to warn customers if the recipient doesn’t match the account owner.

This could help prevent fraudsters impersonating a person or organisation you trust – like solicitors or HMRC.

Currently, when you enter bank details to make a payment, the bank will check the sort code and account number to verify whether the account exists – but it won’t check whether the name of the account holder is correct.

The new system – known as ‘confirmation of payee’ – will check the name you enter against the account owner and warn you if the details don’t match.

Banks were expected to have this technology in place by July 2019. However, a spokesman for UK Finance, the trade body that represents the banks, recently told the Treasury Select Committee this could be delayed until 2020.

Which? urges banks to sign up to code

At the moment, the code and reimbursement scheme are both voluntary. Which? is urging all banks, building societies, and service providers to sign up to the code to ensure victims are fully protected, whoever they bank with.

Gareth Shaw, head of money at Which?, said: ‘This alarming rise in bank transfer fraud suggests criminals are winning the war over scams as banks are still struggling to get a grip of this worsening crime.

‘While a new voluntary code should offer victims some extra protection, the industry must do more to stop people losing life-changing sums of money in the first place – starting by introducing vital confirmation of payee security checks, which could cut bank transfer fraud in half overnight.

‘Banks must also ensure the new reimbursement scheme works fairly to pay back victims and ensures that cases of people having their lives devastated by these scams when they are not at fault become a thing of the past.’

The following banks have already committed to the code:

Barclays

Lloyds Banking Group

HSBC

Metro Bank

Royal Bank of Scotland

Santander

Nationwide

You can join our campaign by signing the petition calling for the government to safeguard us from scams.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/iStock-913708950.jpgMonzo to offer 1.55% interest on its savings pots – but are the rates any good?https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/monzo-to-offer-1-55-interest-on-its-savings-pots-but-are-the-rates-any-good/
Thu, 21 Mar 2019 11:40:20 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=168163Monzo, the popular mobile app bank, is launching a new range of savings accounts paying as much as 1.55% AER.

The bank is partnering OakNorth, a fin-tech savings company, to offer six new savings accounts to its 1.6m customers. This is not the first time Monzo has offered a savings account, but the rates on offer are significantly higher on its new accounts.

There will be four savings accounts and two cash Isas, offering rates up to 1.55% interest, or 1.53% AER.

But how do the accounts work, and are they any better than other savings accounts? Which? has looked into what’s on offer.

What Monzo savings accounts will be available?

There will be six savings accounts to choose from, which include:

instant-access account, 1% AER

six-month fixed-term account, 1.36% AER

nine-month fixed-term account, 1.46% AER

12-month fixed-term account, 1.53% AER

instant-access cash Isa, 1.14% AER

12-month fixed-term cash Isa, 1.38% AER

Each account requires a minimum initial deposit of £500. You can save up to £500,000 across all of your savings pots, and – like all cash Isas – you can only deposit up to £20,000 into the Monzo cash Isa in each tax year, in accordance with the cash Isa allowance rules.

The cash Isas are also flexible, so if you make withdrawals and re-deposit the money, it won’t add to your overall allowance.

The instant-access cash Isa will be available from Monday 25 March, and the other accounts will open in the upcoming weeks.

It’s worth bearing in mind that, while some will consider some interest to be better than nothing, none of these rates can equal or beat the current rate of inflation – this measured 1.9% in February.

This means that your savings will still be losing money in real terms; as prices rise, your money won’t be able to buy as much.

How does Monzo compare?

As the table shows, none of the Monzo and OakNorth accounts are market-leading – and, in fact, OakNorth’s own products offer higher interest rates than the ones through Monzo.

So, if your main aim is to find an account where your savings can earn as much as possible, Monzo may not be the best option for you.

However, several of the top-rate accounts require higher minimum initial deposits than Monzo’s products – so, if you have a relatively small savings pot, saving £500 may be far more realistic than, say, £1,000.

You should also take into account any tricky caveats; Yorkshire Building Society’s instant-access cash Isa, for instance, only permits one withdrawal per year. This may not be suitable if you’re likely to need to access your cash regularly.

Editor’s note: This story was updated to clarify that the top AER on offer is 1.53%, and interest at 1.55%.

Which? Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Which? Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 527029). Which? Mortgage Advisers and Which? Money Compare are trading names of Which? Financial Services Limited.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Monzo-overdrafts.jpgIs London Help to Buy becoming extinct?https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/is-london-help-to-buy-becoming-extinct/
Thu, 21 Mar 2019 00:02:30 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=167820The number of Help to Buy properties for sale in Greater London has crashed by 64.3% since 2017, according to new research, but which areas are the worst affected?

In February 2019 only 1,619 Help to Buy properties were listed for sale across the whole of London, down from 4,535 at the end of 2017, according to research by modular homes provider Project Etopia.

Here we take a look the best and worst areas in London for Help to Buy property availability and other government schemes that could give you a leg up onto the capital’s property ladder.

If you’re hoping to buy a home in London, you can get expert advice on your mortgage options by calling Which? Mortgage Advisers on 0800 197 8461 or filling in the form at the bottom of the article.

Which boroughs are suffering the biggest Help to Buy drought?

The availability of properties available through London Help to Buy – a government scheme that lends buyers up to 40% of the property price – is swiftly diminishing in some boroughs.

The research, based on listings on Rightmove and Zoopla, showed that in February 2019 almost half (15) of London’s 32 boroughs didn’t have any Help to Buy houses for sale at all.

Even when adding flats into the equation, Hammersmith and Fulham only had one Help to Buy property up for sale in February – earning it the dubious accolade of being the worst London borough for Help to Buy availability.

Kensington and Chelsea, one of the capital’s wealthiest areas, had the second-lowest number of Help to Buy properties available, with just three listed on the market.

The political hub of Westminster only went one better, with a meagre four Help to Buy homes on the market.

Find out more: you can search for London Help to Buy properties using the Mayor of London’s Homes for Londoners portal

Best areas for London Help to Buy

The south London borough of Croydon boasted the best Help to Buy availability, with 170 homes available for sale in February 2019.

Situated in the north London suburbs, Barnet had the second-highest number of Help to Buy properties on the market, at 135.

Tower Hamlets, in the East End, was in third position, with 127 London Help to Buy properties listed for sale last month.

The table below shows how many Help to Buy properties were available in each London borough in February 2019 vs December 2017. Use the search bar to find your area.

What is Help to Buy?

The governments in England, Wales and Scotland all offer Help to Buy equity loans to help people buy homes.

Under London Help to Buy, you can apply for an equity loan of up to 40%. This means that you can put down a deposit of 5%, borrow up to 40% of the property value from the government and take out a mortgage on the remaining 55%.

The loan is interest-free for the first five years, after which you’ll have to start paying monthly charges. You’ll need to repay the loan in full after 25 years or when your mortgage ends, whichever comes first.

Help to Buy is open to first-time buyers and home movers but is restricted to new-build homes on developments that are participating in the scheme. The London scheme is more generous than elsewhere in Britain, as the table below shows:

Alternatives to Help to Buy

If you aren’t eligible for London Help to Buy, don’t want to buy (or can’t find a suitable) new-build, or just don’t like the sound of the equity loan scheme, there are alternatives that might be worth trying.

Shared ownership

Shared ownership enables you to buy a share of a property – usually between 25% and 75% – and pay rent to a housing association on the remaining portion of the property.

Some shared ownership schemes allow you to increase the share of the property you own at a later date through a process called ‘staircasing’, but this can be difficult and often costly.

Rent to Buy

Rent to Buy was introduced to help people save enough of a deposit to get onto the property ladder.

The scheme allows you to rent a home at 20% below the normal market rate for up to five years.

During this time you’ll get the option to either buy the entire property or purchase a portion of it through shared ownership.

The number of Rent to Buy properties available is quite limited and you may have to pass additional eligibility criteria depending on the housing association that the property is offered under.

Getting a mortgage in London

London house prices are notoriously higher than those in the rest of the UK, so trying to secure a mortgage may seem like an impossible task, especially if you’re a first-time buyer.

Before starting to look for a home in the capital, it’s important to work out how much you can afford to borrow, to get an idea of the area and property type you’ll realistically be able to buy.

Mortgage lenders will generally offer between three and four-and-a-half times the total annual income of you and anyone else you’re buying with.

Before making a decision on whether and how much to offer, lenders will look at other factors including your credit score, debts you owe, your average spending and your personal circumstances more generally.

The French bank has been granted a UK banking licence, which means that customers’ savings protected up to £85,000 if the firm were ever to go bust.

This has become a vital protection for savers following the banking crisis of 2008 – particularly for banks based in other countries. UK taxpayers were forced to pay out £4.5bn to people who had money with Icelandic bank Icesave, which was only fully recouped in 2016.

This announcement comes amid uncertainty over how European banks will operate in the United Kingdom after it leaves the European Union.

Which? explains how the RCI Bank development will impact customers and the best current deals offered by the company.

What difference will RCI Bank’s UK licence make?

Previously, the bank operated under a scheme known as ‘passporting’, meaning that an EU company can operate in another EU country and provide the same services without getting direct approval from all the member states.

This had meant UK RCI customers were protected by the French state compensation scheme, which covered up to €100,000 per depositor, equivalent to £85,000.

However, gaining a UK licence makes it much easier for customers to claim compensation should the bank ever go bust.

What savings options does the RCI Bank offer?

It requires an initial minimum £100 deposit, but there’s no limit on how many withdrawals you can make.

The table below shows how RCI Bank’s instant access account compares to the best rates currently available to savers. The links take you to Which? Money Compare, a price comparison service offered by Which? Financial Services.

How does the FSCS protect customers?

The FSCS pays compensation of up to £85,000 per person, per financial institution if bank or savings company goes bust and is unlikely or unable to return their customers’ money.

But it only applies to funds saved within each financial institution with a banking ‘authorisation’ – not each bank account, or even each bank.

So, if you’ve saved more than £85,000 with two banks that are owned by the same institution with just one authorisation, you’re only covered for £85,000 in total.

In recent years Lloyds have taken over HBOS, The Co-operative Bank merged with Britannia, and Santander purchased Abbey, Bradford & Bingley and Alliance & Leicester, so you should check to see which financial institution your money is saved with.

How will Brexit impact European banks?

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has set up a ‘temporary permissions’ regime scheme, which it expects to last for three years, for banks and companies from the European Economic Area in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

This would mean the companies signed up to the ‘temporary permissions regime’ would get equivalent cover as that of UK institutions.

Firms are then encouraged like the RCI Bank to apply for a UK licence.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Jan-inflation-2.jpgDyson V11: are the new features worth paying out for?https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/dyson-v11-are-the-new-features-worth-paying-out-for/
Thu, 21 Mar 2019 00:01:11 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=166642Dyson has unveiled its latest cordless offering – the V11 – and claims it’s not only super intelligent but also has 20% more suction power than its predecessor, the Cyclone V10. It’s also the most expensive yet, with the top-end V11 Absolute costing £600.

The V11 looks similar to the V10, but it has some pretty tempting updates which set it apart from rivals. The most eye-catching is the smart digital display, which tells you how much battery life you have left and refines its estimates over time.

The Absolute model also comes with an automatic cleaning mode, which adjusts suction to suit the floor type, saving you having to switch as you go (and optimising your battery life). But is it really worth a jaw-dropping £600?

Dyson V11 first look video

Get an overview of what’s new in our video above, or head straight to our Dyson V11 first look review to get our verdict on the new model.

Read on for more on how it compares with rivals on features and spec, including the two things we think hold it back.

Dyson V11 cordless: what’s new vs the V10?

The V11 keeps the design changes we liked on the Dyson V10, such as the larger dust capacity and longer battery life, and adds some handy extras. The main additions are:

1. Digital display and smart battery countdown

Both V11 models come with a dynamic digital display. This tells you which cleaning mode you are in and gives a to-the-second battery life countdown – making running out of charge halfway through the house a thing of the past.

Dyson says the V11 constantly monitors performance and fine tunes battery estimates over time, taking into account the cleaning mode, the tools being used and the floor type.

The display also reminds you when to clean the filters and lets you know if there are any blockages. It even tells you how to clear them.

2. More power and longer cleaning times

Dyson says the V11 has 20% more suction than the V10. It can go further, too, lasting a full 60 minutes in floor cleaning mode (on the eco setting). That’s an improvement on the V10, which can only manage around 45 minutes. This makes the prospect of a whole home clean a real possibility for larger households.

This extra run time does mean it takes an hour longer to charge than the V10, V7 and the V6, though – around four-and-a-half hours.

V11 digital motor and ‘most powerful battery yet’

At the core of the vacuum is its upgraded digital motor, which now has a triple diffuser to improve performance. Dyson says the first two diffusers straighten airflow and reduce turbulence, helping to increase suction, while the third diffuser aims to reduce noise levels.

The motor also uses pressure sensors to report information back to the microprocessor – the brain of the vacuum – at up to 8,000 times a second. You’re then alerted to any issues via the digital display.

3. Automatic cleaning mode

The more expensive V11 Absolute model has an extra trick up its sleeve: auto mode.

This only kicks in if you have the high-torque floor head attached, and automatically adapts to different floor types to achieve the best cleaning results and optimise battery life. The floor head has an extra digital motor built in and measures resistance to determine how much power is needed.

4. Take mini tools with you as you clean

A simple but useful addition, the new accessory clip slides on to the cleaning tube so you can carry two mini tools, such as the crevice tool or upholstery brush, around the house.

It may not be revolutionary, but it does save you from having to traipse up and down the stairs, or back and forth from your car when you need to clean in a tricky corner.

5. It’s heavier than the V10

The V10 weighed a sprightly 2.6kg, while the V11 weighs in at just over 3kg, thanks to that bigger battery.

This is still pretty average for a cordless vacuum, so we don’t think it’s a big worry, but it’s worth making sure you’re comfortable with the load, especially now you can clean for longer.

Two features we’d like to have seen on the V11

The V11 looks to have some genuinely useful updates, but there are two more we wish it had:

1. Power latch for continuous cleaning

You still need to hold the power trigger down continuously while cleaning with the V11. Dyson says this is to preserve the battery.

That may have rung true on early Dyson cordless models, which had a max run time of 20 minutes, but it feels harder to justify when you can potentially clean for an hour or more.

Plenty of competitors have a small latch you can swing round to hold the trigger down, or a simple on/off button. It would be nice to see Dyson offer the option for those who might find it tiring.

2. LED headlights on the floorhead

OK, we’re nitpicking here, but if you’re going to pay top whack for a cordless vacuum, some headlights wouldn’t go amiss. Again, many rivals have LED headlights as standard, even vacuums costing £250 or less, such as the Vax Blade 2 Max and Hoover H-free.

While a cordless vacuum that cleans well is our top priority, we’ve found headlights can be useful for spotting stray crumbs.

Should you trade up to the V11?

With a hefty price £600 for the top-end model, the V11 is the most expensive cordless vacuum you can buy.

Whether you’re willing to splash out really boils down to how keen you are on the auto-cleaning mode. The V11 Animal launches for the same price as the top-end V10 Total Clean model, so it could well be worth trading up to get more cleaning time and the new digital display. You could also hold out for price drops on older models, such as the V8 and V7.

*All figures based on our tests, apart from for the V11, which are claimed run times. Turbo run time for V11 is based on using torque floorhead, for mini tools it’s five minutes.

How does the Dyson V11 compare with rivals?

The V11 has managed to bring some unique features to an increasingly crowded and competitive market. The digital display, in particular, with its precise battery countdown, sets this vac apart.

The auto-clean mode is also a potentially time-saving extra. It’s not the only cordless vac we’ve seen that adjusts suction power as you go, though. The AEG FX9 Ultimate has auto suction, a lengthy run time of around 70 minutes on the lowest setting and LED lights on the floor head. It also costs £200 less than the V11 Absolute. Check our full AEG FX9 Ultimate review to find out if it gets the fundamentals right and cleans well, too.

You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a great cordless vacuum. We’ve found Best Buys for less than £250. Head to our round-up of the best cordless vacuum cleaners for our top picks.

Dyson Cyclone Dok: an alternative to the wall mount?

Neither the V11 nor the V10 can stand by themselves so if you don’t fancy drilling the dock into your wall to charge or leaving your vacuum in pieces in a cupboard, Dyson has launched a new vacuum stand, called the Dyson Dok.

The docking station will give you a place to neatly store your vacuum and accessories – and also comes with an additional five tools including a mattress-cleaning tool and a mini soft dusting brush for furniture and blinds.

There’s one drawback – it will cost you £150. So that cupboard might not look so bad after all…

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Dyson-V11-MAIN.jpgFirst-time buyer mortgage market booming despite Brexit uncertaintyhttps://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/first-time-buyer-mortgage-market-booming-despite-brexit-uncertainty/
Thu, 21 Mar 2019 00:01:00 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=167662The number of first-time buyers taking out mortgages increased significantly in January, suggesting that uncertainty in the property market over Brexit is not deterring people taking their first steps onto the property ladder.

More than 25,000 first-time buyers took out a mortgage in the first month of 2019, according to banking trade body UK Finance.

This comes at a time where Brexit has cooled house prices, giving first-time buyers more hope of finding an affordable property.

Which? examines the pros and cons of taking out a mortgage before the UK leaves the European Union and of using a broker when looking for a deal on your dream first home.

If you’re buying your first home and need advice on your mortgage options, call Which? Mortgage Advisers on 0800 197 8461 or fill in the form at the bottom of this article.

First-time buyer mortgage rise and house prices plateau

According to UK Finance, there were 4.6 times more people taking out a home loan in January compared to the same month last year, which amounts to around 25,100 new first-time buyers.

In a boost for first time buyers, property portal Rightmove reports the average price of property coming to market in March rose by just 0.4% (+£1,287), the lowest average monthly rise at this time since 2011.

This month, average prices fell by 1.1% in London to £607,557 compared to February as the capital housing market appears to be hardest hit by Brexit.

We also analysed Moneyfacts data to find the best fee-free mortgages available to first-time buyers with small deposits.

Here are the best two-year fixed-rate 95% LTV mortgage deals that come with no fees.

Lender

Initial rate

Revert rate (SVR)

APRC

Lending area

Progressive Building Society

2.79%

5%

4.74%

Northern Ireland

Barclays Mortgages

2.88%

4.24%

4.1%

All UK

Skipton Building Society

2.89%

4.99%

4.7%

England, Scotland, Wales

Source: Moneyfacts, 5 March 2019.

Downsides of getting mortgage before Brexit

Kate Faulkner, housing expert and founder of propertychecklists.co.uk, said that ‘there has been stagnation in the market over the last year in areas such as London, the South and East, which had overheated and this slowdown has spread to other areas over the last few months.

‘Buyers are now definitely holding back in the hope that prices will fall. But it’s not only demand that’s dropping – supply is, too, with many people battening down the hatches until we have a clearer picture of what’s going to happen. This can limit any expectations of a decrease in house prices, but also mean that few move, as there’s little choice on the market for would-be sellers to buy.’

Faulkner says that ‘buyers should be put off by fears of a house price crash as long as they mitigate the risk of it happening due to economic shocks.

‘If you bought a property now, even if it did drop in value in the short term, the market will probably have corrected itself by the time you come to move (assuming you’re going to stay there for at least five years).

‘However, if you’re considering buying somewhere for the short term it’s more complicated. Transactions are likely to drop over the next few months and it’s possible that interest rates could jump back to their pre-credit crunch levels of 6% to 7% if a no-deal Brexit causes issues.’

Should first-time buyers use a mortgage broker?

According to the Home Owners Alliance, 89% of first-time buyers used a mortgage broker in the first quarter of last year.

A broker, or adviser, will apply for a suitable mortgage on your behalf based on your personal financial situation.

They can save you time by telling you which lenders are likely to accept you and how to improve your application, and can speed up the process by dealing with paperwork.

They also have access to thousands of mortgage deals that are only available to intermediaries.

It is important to establish whether your mortgage broker is whole-of-market or will only recommend deals from a select panel of lenders.

Advice on your mortgage options

Whether you’re buying with the help of parents or going it alone, Which? Mortgage Advisers can give you expert advice on your mortgage options.

No matter what stage of the process you’re at, you can call them on 0800 197 8461 or fill in the form below for a free call back.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Which? Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Which? Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 527029). Which? Mortgage Advisers and Which? Money Compare are trading names of Which? Financial Services Limited.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/London-houses-1.jpgAmazon’s new cheap Kindle has a built-in light and is just £70https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/amazons-new-cheap-kindle-has-a-built-in-light-and-is-just-70/
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 15:03:41 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=168033Amazon has launched a new Kindle ebook reader with a screen light to ease reading in the dark – the key feature that helped its Paperwhite series really take off.

Importantly, the new Kindle starts at just £69.99 – significantly undercutting the price of the Paperwhite. Could it be Amazon’s most popular ebook reader yet?

The new Amazon Kindle

The new model is functionally very similar to the standard Kindle, but now features a front light that shines across the screen when you want to read in the dark. This is the same technology as used by the Kindle Paperwhite, which was previously the cheapest Kindle (from £120) to offer this feature.

The new Kindle starts from £70. It has four LEDs to light up the screen versus the Paperwhite’s five and the Kindle Oasis’ twelve. More LEDs should mean more even lighting, but while having any light at all will be a bonus for owners of an older Kindle looking for an upgrade, we hope it won’t be a sharp drop in quality over the Paperwhite. We’ll be sending it to our labs soon for a full workover.

Other new features in the new Kindle

There are other slight differences. It’s 13g heavier than the older model, but 0.4mm slimmer, so it should feel largely the same in the hand. The size and number of pixels on the display remains the same, although Amazon says it has upgraded the screen’s contrast to make it easier to read in all lighting conditions.

The Kindle retains its ability to play Audible audiobooks via Bluetooth headphones or speakers and comes with 4GB of storage as standard, which most people should find to be more than enough. As before, there’s no 4G connectivity, unlike its more expensive stablemates.

The new Kindle is available for £69.99 with advertising displayed while the device is locked, or £79.99 without adverts. It’s available for pre-order now and will launch on 10 April. Amazon hasn’t yet said whether it will continue to sell the cheaper Kindle without lights. We have contacted the firm for clarification.

How Which? tests ebook readers

We run every ebook reader on the UK market through a gauntlet of tough tests to ensure they’re up to snuff. All models go through a scratch and impact test to see if they will last years of wear and tear, and those that come with waterproofing claims are given a warm bath of soapy water.

We also check for problems with glare and hard-to-press buttons, as well as evaluating how hard it is to navigate around your book library and buy new titles. We will test the new Kindle when it’s launched in April.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kindle_Balcony.jpgTSB offers mortgage boost for first-time buyers: could it help you buy a home?https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/tsb-offers-mortgage-boost-for-first-time-buyers-could-it-help-you-buy-a-home/
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 13:07:40 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=167727TSB has become the latest lender to shake up its borrowing criteria to allow some cash-strapped first-time buyers and homeowners to get bigger mortgages. Can you benefit?

The bank has increased its loan-to-income multiple cap from the typical 4.5 to 4.75, but only for applicants that have a salary of £40,000 a year or more.

TSB has also doubled the maximum it is willing to lend on its existing two, three, five and 10-year fixed-rate 90% and 95% mortgages from £250,000 to £500,000 – giving those in pricier areas more choice.

Here, we take a look at how these changes could boost your borrowing power, and provide advice on the steps you can take to find a bigger loan if you don’t qualify.

For expert advice on which lender is likely to offer the biggest mortgage based on your personal circumstances call Which? Mortgage Advisers on 0800 197 8461.

How much can you borrow from TSB?

The change to TSB’s residential mortgage criteria means all borrowers with a single or joint salary of at least £40,000 will be able to borrow 4.75 times their annual income, rather than the standard of 4.5 times.

The changes mean that a single buyer with no dependents earning £40,000 a year could secure a loan of up to £190,000, rather than £180,00. That’s an extra £10,000 to help fund your house purchase or remortgage.

Alternatively, two applicants with a combined joint income of £100,000 would be able to qualify for a loan of up to £475,000 rather than £450,000 – theoretically giving them £20,000 more to work with.

TSB head of mortgages Nick Smith says: ‘Increasing our loan-to-income cap and maximum loan size on selected products is about being able to give customers more flexibility on their borrowing needs whilst still meeting our affordability criteria.’

Who offers the biggest mortgages?

The amount you can borrow will vary based on each lender’s criteria and what it thinks you can afford to repay. Providers will look at your income and certain outgoings like repayments on existing debts and childcare to determine how much it’ll offer you.

Typically, most lenders will allow you to borrow a maximum of four-and-a-half times your annual income.

However, some lenders are adjusting their criteria to help those struggling to pass tough affordability assessments.

Some banks will now lend up to 5.5 times salary if you are in a certain profession. For example, Clydesdale Bank offers higher income multiples for occupations including barristers, dentists and solicitors.

But even if your job doesn’t make you eligible to borrow more, you may be able to find some lenders will give you a bigger loan if you earn over a certain amount.

Barclays, for example, will offer those with a deposit of 20% and a salary of at least £30,000 a mortgage of up to five times their annual income.

5 tips to boost your borrowing power

Lenders have to abide by strict affordability rules to ensure they only lend an amount that borrowers can afford to repay both now and in the future.

But this can make it tough for those on lower salaries or with small deposits to get onto the property ladder.

If you’re struggling to make the figures add up, here are some tips on boosting your borrowing power.

1. Compare providers

You can use online calculators provided by mortgage lenders to check how much you’re likely to be able to borrow based on your circumstances. This can give you an idea as to which banks might offer the most. Our research shows the amount you’re offered could vary by as much as £22,500 depending on the lender you choose.

2. Reduce outgoings and debt

Reducing your outgoings can help improve your affordability and boost the amount you can borrow. In some cases, paying off some of your credit card debt can increase your borrowing capacity as well.

3. Try a longer term

Taking out a mortgage over a longer period can help you meet the affordability requirements and therefore boost your borrowing limits.

Extending the term from 25 to 30 or even 40 years, for example, can result in much lower monthly repayments and greater affordability.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Which? Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Which? Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 527029). Which? Mortgage Advisers and Which? Money Compare are trading names of Which? Financial Services Limited.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/HTB-story.jpgCPI inflation rises to 1.9% in February – but it’s still good news for your savingshttps://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/cpi-inflation-remained-at-1-8-in-february-heres-why-its-good-news-for-your-savings/
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 09:44:48 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=167711Inflation rose slightly to 1.9% in February 2019, according to the latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), driven by a rise in food, alcohol and tobacco prices.

This is up 0.1 percentage points from January, when inflation, at 1.8%, was at its lowest level since January 2017.

Which? explains why the rate of inflation has gone up, what’s in the imaginary ‘shopping basket’ that inflation is based on, and what it could mean for your savings.

Why has inflation risen?

The main factors behind the maintained inflation levels were an offset of price rises across food – particularly bread and cereals; alcohol, tobacco and recreational goods and services – balanced out by falling prices of transport as well as clothing and footwear.

The graph below shows how the CPI rate of inflation has changed over the past few years.

The Bank of England is tasked with keeping inflation as near to 2% as possible, which it has done so after inflation peaked at 3.1% in November 2017.

What’s in the CPI inflation shopping basket?

The ‘shopping basket’ often referred to when talking about inflation tracks the prices of around 700 commonly-bought goods and services. These include food and drink items, flights, fuel, clothes, games and even things like theatre tickets.

The basket is updated each year to make sure it’s kept up-to-date with what people are actually buying.

This year, smart speakers (like the Amazon Echo or Google Home), bakeware items, flavoured teas, peanut butter, and electric toothbrushes are all being added, mainly due to their growing popularity.

Other items are being removed, or replaced with something similar that’s bought more often – so, the likes of washing powder, dry dog food, and three-piece suites have all been replaced with more modern alternatives; laundry gels, dog biscuits and non-leather settees.

How does CPI inflation affect savings?

As CPI inflation tracks the goods and services in the shopping basket, each month’s figure shows how much prices have risen or fallen compared to the same month of the previous year.

Therefore, if your savings have been in an account for that year and haven’t received an interest rate that equals or beats inflation, you won’t be able to buy as many things in the shopping basket as you could 12 months beforehand.

This effectively means your money has lost value in real terms; it can’t buy you as many goods or services as it could before.

As the table shows, there is a lot of choice for savers wanting to beat inflation – which is great news. However, you will have to commit to locking your money away for at least one year in a savings account, or two years in a cash Isa, in order to do it.

Before opting for a new account, you should consider whether you’ll need to access your cash regularly – in which case an instant-access account is likely to suit you better – and whether you can save enough to meet the minimum initial deposit requirement.

Several of the top-rate accounts require £5,000 or more, which is likely to be out of reach for those with smaller savings pots.

Cash Isas are on the rise

This time of year is often referred to as ‘Isa season’, as it’s the last few weeks of the current tax year and providers usually try to encourage savers to use up their Isa allowance.

Each tax year, everyone can save up to £20,000 into a tax-free Isa, where they won’t have to pay any tax on any of the savings interest they earn. This is a benefit over a savings account, where any interest your savings earn will go towards your personal savings allowance, and may be taxable.

According to Moneyfacts, there are currently 415 cash Isa deals now available, up from 383 this time last year. This number could well increase as we get towards the Isa deadline on 5 April.

As part of this trend, Leeds Building Society has recently launched a new two-year cash Isa, paying 1.75% AER and requiring a minimum initial deposit of £100.

While it’s not a top-rate account for this term, it’s much more accessible than the Wesleyan Bank account which requires a minimum of £20,000 to be saved.

As well as the number of accounts, rates are on the rise, too. As the table shows, the top-rate instant-access cash Isa is just 0.01% away from the top-rate instant-access savings account – the gap between savings accounts and cash Isas is traditionally much bigger.

Save with a Which? Recommended Provider

Which? Recommended Providers are companies that have been rated highly by the respondents to our unique customer survey and have products that meet the high standards of our researchers.

Savings accounts

If you know you’ll need to have access to your cash, the Kent Reliance easy access account offers 1.40% AER, and requires a minimum initial deposit of £1,000. After that, unlimited withdrawals can be made, as long as at least £1 is held in the account at all times.

Alternatively, for more long-term savings, Leeds Building Society has a four-year income bond that pays 1.92% AER when you make a minimum initial deposit of £100. If the balance falls below this amount, the AER will drop to 0.05%.

Which? Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Which? Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 527029). Which? Mortgage Advisers and Which? Money Compare are trading names of Which? Financial Services Limited.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/inflation-feb-2019.jpgLeasehold and ground rents could be scrapped under new recommendationshttps://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/leasehold-and-ground-rents-could-be-scrapped-under-new-recommendations/
Tue, 19 Mar 2019 10:32:08 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=167641Leasehold homeowners trapped in unsellable properties have finally been offered some respite, with a new select committee report calling for an overhaul of the entire leasehold system.

The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) committee has this morning released a damning report into leasehold housing, specifically focusing on the issues facing existing leaseholders who have found themselves living in unsellable and unmortgageable homes.

The committee says developers, freeholders and managing agents have been treating homeowners as a ‘source of steady profit’, and has encouraged the Law Commission to investigate mis-selling of homes with punitive ground rent clauses and make recommendations for compensating existing leaseholders.

It has also called for the widespread introduction of a commonhold system – where owners of flats have equal shares of a freehold and manage it together – to replace the current leasehold system in England and Wales.

HCLG committee issues damning leasehold report

The select committee, which consists of a range of MPs, says the government should do the following:

Ensure that commonhold becomes the primary model of ownership of flats in England and Wales;

Require ground rents on new leases to be set at a peppercorn level (of no financial value);

Introduce legislation to restrict onerous ‘permission fees’ (where the leaseholder pays charges to make changes to a property);

Require that permission fees are only ever included in freehold deeds when absolutely necessary (although the committee sees no need to have them at all);

Introduce a standard form for service charges, which clearly identifies what the fees are for;

Introduce low-interest loans to allow leaseholders to extend their leases if they cannot afford to do so.

The committee also says that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) should investigate mis-selling claims, and that the Law Commission should outline a process that will make buying the freehold of a property substantially cheaper.

Clauses where annual ground rents doubled every 10 years, which could result in an annual charge of £250 rising to nearly £10,000 in 50 years. In many cases, leaseholders claim their solicitors never informed them of these clauses when they purchased the property.

Developers selling off freeholds to third-party investment companies without informing the leaseholder, who should have had first refusal.

Freeholders charging significant ‘permission fees’ to allow leaseholders to make changes or renovations to their properties.

Mortgage providers refusing to lend on leasehold homes with punitive clauses in their leases.

Until now, the government has primarily focused on preventing new-build houses being sold as leasehold in the future (traditionally, only flats were sold as leasehold). While it has made some broad promises about making the process of buying a freehold easier, it has so far offered no clear method of redress for existing leaseholders.

Now though, the HCLG committee has put the ball firmly in the government’s court, with its report requiring a formal response within two months.

Make commonhold the ‘primary model of ownership’

The committee says there is no reason why the majority of residential flats can’t be held in ‘commonhold’ rather than leasehold tenure.

Commonhold involves each person in a block of flats owning a share of the freehold and managing the upkeep of the building themselves by setting up a management committee.

The report says this form of ownership would be a positive move as commonhold properties are free from ground rents and lease extensions. It also says that there is no proof that professional freeholders currently provide a better service than leaseholders could provide themselves.

Scrapping punitive ground rent clauses

The report says that developers have ‘sought to use their market dominance to exploit customers’ by hitting them with onerous ground rent doubling clauses.

Developers deny claims of mis-selling, but the committee says the ‘number of near-identical stories from leaseholders reflects a serious cross-market failure of oversight of sales practices’.

The report then recommends that the CMA investigates mis-selling and makes recommendations for compensation to existing leaseholders.

Leasehold reform: what’s next?

While the HCLG committee is forthright in its claims that the leasehold system needs a significant overhaul, it remains to be seen if and when this will come to fruition.

The report’s claim that it would be ‘legally possible’ to introduce legislation to remove onerous ground rent clauses puts pressure on the government to act, but it does provide the caveat that ‘freeholders would probably need to be compensated’. With so many affected parties, the process of introducing legislation could be very complicated.

As it stands, the government, CMA and Law Commission each have two months to respond to the report’s recommendations.

Are you buying a home?

It’s vital that you understand whether you’re buying a leasehold or freehold property. And, if it’s leasehold, that you understand everything contained within the lease.

For more information on what buying a leasehold property entails, read our guide on leasehold vs freehold.

If you’re considering buying a leasehold home and want advice on how this could affect your mortgage, it can be helpful to speak to a mortgage adviser.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Which? Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Which? Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 527029). Which? Mortgage Advisers and Which? Money Compare are trading names of Which? Financial Services Limited.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/resizeiStock-181857721.jpgNationwide makes high street bank branch closure pledgehttps://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/nationwide/
Tue, 19 Mar 2019 00:01:44 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=167453Nationwide has pledged to retain a branch in any town or city where it currently has a presence for at least two years – bucking the worrying trend in recent years of big banks closing high street branches.

And the building society has vowed that this policy will remain in place even if rival banks are situated in the area or not.

The rise of digital and cashless banking has coincided with more and more ATMs and local bank branches disappearing from towns, villages and small cities across the UK, often directly impacting vulnerable members of the public who rely on traditional banking.

Which? looks at the significance of Nationwide’s announcement, its track record of closures and how it compares to other banks.

Nationwide vows to retain bank branches for two years

Up until May 2021, Nationwide has pledged to keep at least one bank branch in any town or city where it currently has one, regardless of whether rival banks or building societies are present in the area or not.

Nationwide said it will still close branches ‘where it makes sense to do so’ – for example, where two outlets are near each other and could better serve members if they were combined and received additional investment.

Over the next five years, Nationwide said it is committed to spending £350m, including £80m in 2019, on its branches by introducing high definition video and iPad features and areas where members can chat.

Chief executive Joe Garner said even with growing digital banking technology, members ‘appreciate being able to visit a building and meet with real people who can help them with their financial affairs.’

How many branches has Nationwide closed since 2015?

According to Which?’s analysis, the building society has closed 21 branches in the past four years, with nine of these closures scheduled in 2018/19.

Across the UK, Nationwide currently has around 650 branches.

Nationwide’s rate of closures is relatively small compared to other rival banking providers such as Natwest and the Royal Bank of Scotland which have closed 638 and 404 outlets respectively since 2015 up until January this year.

HSBC has closed 440, although has stated that it has no further planned closures, while Lloyds Bank has shut or is due to close 396 branches.

Which? has established 249 Barclays closures during the same period but as the company has not verified our research the true figure could be higher.

Tech support

Many banks including RBS, which has a team of experts, and Barclays through its Digital Eagles initiative, are helping people set up their mobile and online banking through staff based at branches, who also offer advice about security.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/threadneedle-street-branch-download.jpgQuarter of first-time buyer mortgage deposits boosted by parentshttps://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/quarter-of-first-time-buyer-mortgage-deposits-boosted-by-parents/
Tue, 19 Mar 2019 00:01:28 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=166972Nearly one in four potential first-time buyers are relying on help from the bank of mum and dad to fund their mortgage deposit, according to a new survey.

Of those, more than half (54%) will use their folks’ cash savings to get a foot on the property ladder, retail bank Aldermore has reported.

We examine the first-time buyer market and explain your options if you’re not able to rely on cash from your parents to buy a home.

If you’re buying your first home and need advice on your mortgage options, call Which? Mortgage Advisers on 0800 197 8461 or fill in the form at the bottom of this article.

Saving a mortgage deposit biggest barrier for buyers

Just over a quarter (26%) of the wannabe homebuyers surveyed said that saving up enough deposit was their biggest obstacle, with 23% living with their parents in order to save more quickly.

Another quarter (25%) said that finding an affordable property was the greatest challenge, and others mentioned issues such as stamp duty/valuation fees (2%), finding a suitable home for sale (4%), interest rates (5%) and fees associated with buying a property (4%).

Damian Thompson, Aldermore’s director of mortgages, claimed high house prices, not enough suitable homes and weak wage growth means ‘the bank of mum and dad has increasingly become a necessity, rather than just a helping hand’.

How else can parents help?

Not all parents are lucky enough to have cash available to help their children, but there are other options.

One could be a guarantor mortgage, where the parent acts as a guarantor on their child’s loan, using either their property or savings as security. This can help boost the mortgage applicant’s chances of being accepted, or give them access to better mortgage deals.

If the first-time buyer has struggled to save a deposit, they could even consider a 100% mortgage – a loan for the full value of the property which also involves the parent acting as a guarantor.

The 100% mortgage market was severely restricted following the financial crash, but has begun to see a resurgence in recent months with providers such as Barclays reducing the rate on its 100% Family Springboard mortgage.

You might also want to consider a joint borrower, sole proprietor (JBSP) mortgage. With this kind of deal, the parent can act as a joint applicant for the mortgage – meaning that their income and financial circumstances are taken into account, as well as their child’s, but only the child is named on the property deeds.

JBSP mortgages generally make it easier for the first-time buyer to be accepted but, as the parent doesn’t actually own the property that’s being bought, they get to avoid paying the second home stamp duty surcharge.

Other options for first-time buyers

If you’re saving for your first home and aren’t able (or don’t want) to ask your parents for help, there are other options, from schemes to larger mortgages.

Help to Buy equity loans

If you’ve got a 5% deposit, the government may lend you 15-40% of the property price (depending on where you live) through a Help to Buy equity loan.

These are only available on new-build homes but could help you on to the property ladder if you’re struggling to buy through the normal routes.

Shared ownership

This allows you to buy a part of the property and pay rent on the rest of the home.

Typically people buy a stake of between 25% and 75% from a housing association (a not-for-profit organisation that supplies housing) and pay rent of up to 3% on the remaining share.

Buying with a friend

Many people buy with a partner or spouse, but that’s not the only option. Increasing numbers of first-time buyers are teaming up with friends in order to cut the costs of a deposit, buying fees and mortgage repayments.

Buying with another person also has the significant benefit of enabling you to take out a bigger mortgage.

95% mortgages

Rates on 95% mortgages have fallen sharply over the past year, meaning that if you’ve saved up a 5% deposit and are able to borrow enough, they are a more appealing option than in the past.

Advice on your mortgage options

Whether you’re buying with the help of parents or going it alone, Which? Mortgage Advisers can give you expert advice on your mortgage options.

No matter what stage of the process you’re at, you can call them on 0800 197 8461 or fill in the form below for a free call back.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Which? Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Which? Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 527029). Which? Mortgage Advisers and Which? Money Compare are trading names of Which? Financial Services Limited.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/first-time-buyers.jpgApple announces new iPad Air and updates iPad Minihttps://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/apple-announce-new-ipad-air-and-updates-ipad-mini/
Mon, 18 Mar 2019 14:01:00 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=167504There are now five iPads to choose from after Apple confirmed the addition of two new launches to an already large line-up of products.

iPad Air – larger and lighter

This is not the first time Apple has named a product the iPad Air. The Air moniker has previously been used on its basic, 9.7-inch models, with the Air and the Air 2 sold between 2014 and 2016, at which point Apple reverted to referring to the iPad Air as the iPad.

Unlike its previous iterations, the Air now sits alongside the iPad as a more premium option, finding itself in between the most basic model and the ultra-expensive iPad Pro models.

This device is substantially larger than the iPad, with a 10.5-inch screen. Despite this, it actually tips the scales at a slightly lighter 456g versus the iPad’s 469g. This is impressive given its much larger size.

It also features 2017’s Apple A12 Bionic processor. This is the first time it’s been used in an iPad, and means it should be significantly faster and more power-efficient than the A10 Fusion chip found in the basic iPad.

Like the basic iPad (and the new Mini), the iPad Air now supports the 1st-generation Apple Pencil. This differs from the 2nd-gen Pencil (only supported by the 2018 iPad Pro models) because it has to be charged plugged into the charging port of an iPad, making for a rather ungainly (and worryingly snappable) arrangement.

The screen features 264 pixels-per-inch (PPI), which is the same as the iPad but less than the Mini. It also has Apple’s ‘True Tone’ and wide colour display technology, meaning it should be able to display more vibrant and accurate colours than the standard iPad.

The base model with 64GB of storage starts at £479.

iPad Mini – small updates

The iPad Mini keeps its original price of £399, but now features the same processor as the iPad Air, making it significantly faster than the old 4th-generation model that was last updated in 2015.

It keeps the same 7.9-inch display size as before, but now features the wide colour and True Tone tech of the Air and iPad Pros. It weighs in at just 300g, roughly the same as the old model, and up to 256GB of storage is available, but the base model comes equipped with 64GB.

Both models are on sale today and Apple’s online store is showing delivery dates from 28 March.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ipad_9_7_inch_apple_pencil_support_32718.jpgYorkshire Building Society launches new five-year fixed-rate remortgage dealhttps://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/yorkshire-building-society-launches-new-five-year-fixed-rate-remortgage-deal/
Mon, 18 Mar 2019 00:02:10 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=167238With Brexit on the horizon, many home owners are looking at remortgaging to a fixed-rate deal to protect themselves from market fluctuations. Following this trend, Yorkshire Building Society has launched a five-year fixed rate mortgage for homeowners with 15% equity in their home at a market-leading rate of 2.01%.

The lender says it has launched the competitive deal in response to borrower demand for long-term fixed-rate products, which it believes is down to the ongoing uncertainty caused by Brexit.

The building society reports it saw a 44% increase in borrowers looking for a five-year fixed-rate deal in 2018 compared to the same month in the previous year. But how does the Yorkshire offer stack up – and is it wise to commit yourself to a five-year deal?

Which? takes a closer look at Yorkshire’s deal and the pros and cons of fixing for five years versus a shorter two-year period.

If your mortgage deal is about to run out call Which? Mortgage Advisers on 0800 197 8461 for help finding the best remortgage options for you.

What’s the deal?

Yorkshire’s new deal allows homeowners with 15% equity to remortgage at a rate of 2.01%, fixed until 30 June 2024 – the overall cost for comparison is 3.6% APRC.

The five-year deal is the lowest rate available on an 85% loan-to-value (LTV) but it comes with a hefty £1,995 completion fee.

The deal also comes with early repayment charges which are tiered across the full term. This means if you want to pay back your mortgage before the end of the five-year period you will be charged 5% of the remaining balance in the first year, 4% in the second, 3% in the third, 2.5% in the fourth and 1.5% in the fifth.

However, the mortgage is portable, which means you might be able to keep it if you move house.

Is a long-term fixed-rate the right option for you?

A five-year fixed-rate deal offers borrowers peace of mind that their interest will remain the same every month, regardless of what happens in the wider economy.

However, this security comes at a premium. Currently, the average five-year fixed-rate remortgage deal is 3.25%, compared to 2.86% on two-year deals – a difference of 0.39%.

On a £250,000 25-year mortgage, that’s the difference between £1,218 a month or £1,168 a month – which amounts to £600 a year in extra bills.

You should also factor-in the early repayment charges (ERCs) on long-term fixed rates deals, which may apply if you want to sell up and move.

For example, one year after taking out a £250,000 mortgage at a 2.01% rate, you would have an outstanding debt of £242,225.

If you were able to repay it, and the provider charged a 4% ERC, you would have to hand over an eye-watering £9,689 just for paying back your mortgage earlier than planned.

You may be able to avoid ERCs if your deal is portable, as your lender may allow you to transfer the mortgage from one property to a new one.

A longer-term fix can also save you money on the cost of remortgaging every couple of years. With a two-year deal, you’d have to pay another round of valuation and completion fees (which can run into the thousands) at least twice over five years, which you could avoid with a five-year term.

Best two-year and five-year remortgage deals

If you are looking to remortgage and fancy locking into a five-year fixed rate, here are the best deals across a range of LTVs.

Lender

Term

Initial rate

Revert rate (SVR)

APRC

Fees

LTV

Coventry Building Society*

Fixed to 30/06/2024

1.99%

4.74%

3.8%

£999

50%

HSBC

Fixed to 31/07/2024

1.81%

4.19%

3.4%

£1499

60%

Principality Building Society**

Fixed to 31/03/2024

1.90%

5.05%

3.9%

£1395

65%

HSBC

Fixed to 31/07/2024

1.91%

4.19%

3.4%

£1499

70%

Yorkshire Building Society***

Fixed to 30/06/2024

1.94%

4.99%

3.6%

£1495

75%

TSB****

Fixed to 31/05/2024

2.04%

4.24%

3.3%

£995

80%

Yorkshire Building Society

Fixed to 30/06/2024

2.01%

4.99%

3.6%

£1995

85%

Skipton Building Society

Fixed to 31/07/2024

2.29%

4.99%

4.2%

£1995

90%

*Great Britain
**Wales and England
***Free valuation and £750 cashback
***£150 cashback if you are a TSB customer
Source: Moneyfacts 14 March 2019

Alternatively, if you’d prefer a cheaper monthly outlay, you might be better off going for a two-year fixed-rate. We’ve set out the lowest two-year fixed-rate remortgage deals below across a range of LTVs.

Lender

Term

Initial rate

Revert rate (SVR)

APRC

Fees

LTV

Coventry Building Society*

Fixed to 30/06/2021

1.55%

4.99% to 30/06/2024 4.74% thereafter

4.3%

£999

50%

Lloyds Bank

Fixed to 31/05/2021

1.43%

4.24%

3.8%

£999

60%

Chelsea Building Society

Fixed to 31/08/2021

1.55%

4.25%

4.2%

£1295

65%

HSBC

Fixed to 31/07/2021

1.50%

4.19%

3.9%

£1499

70%

Yorkshire Building Society

Fixed to 30/06/2021

1.47%

4.25%

4.1%

£1495

75%

Sainsbury’s Bank

Fixed to 30/06/2021

1.62%

4.49%

4.1%

£995

80%

Leeds Building Society

Fixed to 31/05/2021

1.67%

4.69% to 31/05/2024 5.69% thereafter

4.9%

£1999

85%

Barclays

Fixed to 30/04/2021

1.79%

4.24%

3.9%

£999

90%

*Great Britain
**Wales and England
Source: Moneyfacts 14 March 2019

If you need help finding the best remortgage deal to lock into before Brexit, call Which? Mortgage Advisers on 0800 197 8461 or fill in the form below for a free callback.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Which? Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Which? Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 527029). Which? Mortgage Advisers and Which? Money Compare are trading names of Which? Financial Services Limited.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/iStock-177099685.jpgCould maxing out the Junior Isa allowance give your child a £110,000 windfall?https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/could-maxing-out-the-junior-isa-allowance-give-your-child-a-110000-windfall/
Mon, 18 Mar 2019 00:02:02 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=166354Saving for your children not only provides them with a welcome nest-egg when they reach adulthood, but can mean they’re better savers for the rest of their lives.

Research from National Savings & Investments (NS&I) recently found that 50% of Brits had a savings account opened for them when they were children, and many parents are now looking to continue that tradition with the next generation.

The Junior Isa is a popular way to save for children, and any growth is tax-free. But how much could you earn and are there alternatives in the market?

Here, we’ve modelled a few scenarios to see how much you might be able to hand over to your child when they turn 18.

Junior Isas: cash vs stocks and shares

According to the most recent HMRC Isa statistics, Junior Isas are becoming more popular; in 2017-18, around 907,000 Junior Isa accounts were subscribed to, compared to 794,000 the previous year.

Around 57% of the money saved was in cash, while the other 43% was invested in stocks and shares accounts.

While parents can open and manage the account, the money is held on behalf of the child, who will take control of it when they turn 18. You won’t be able to withdraw any of the money or close the account before this, except in extraordinary circumstances, so make sure you can spare the cash.

In the 2019-20 tax year, you can save up to £4,368 in a Junior Isa tax-free – up from £4,260 in 2018-19. This amount is known as the Junior Isa allowance.

To fully use this allowance, you’d have to save £364 a month, or just over £12 a day. So, how can you get the most from your money?

Please note that the allowance is likely to change from year to year, but for our models, we assume you continue to pay in the same amount every month for a period of 18 years.

If you invest in stocks and shares for 18 years

There are several choices you’ll need to make before investing in a stocks and shares Junior Isa: what kind of investments you want to make, the level of risk, and how involved you want to be in managing the investments.

If you were to take out a medium-risk stocks and shares Junior Isa, paying in £364 a month for 18 years, and paying 0.75% a year in fees, we’ve calculated that the investment could be worth £111,000 by the time your child reaches 18.

You’d contribute £78,624 over that time, and receive £32,706.64 in investment growth.

However, this growth is not guaranteed and the money you deposit is at risk. It’s true that over 18 years, there’ s an increased likelihood that investments will grow, as dips in the market are evened out over time – but there’s always the chance that you won’t get back as much money as you paid in.

The charges you incur from your Isa provider could also be markedly different to our example, so you should always check these first before opening an account.

If you save in cash for 18 years

Making the same assumption of saving £364 a month for 18 years, you’d also pay £78,624 into a Junior cash Isa – but the returns are slightly different.

The table below shows the three top-rate Junior Isas.

Account

AER

Terms

Coventry Building Society Junior Isa

3.60%

£1 minimum initial deposit

Danske Bank Junior Isa

3.45

£25 minimum initial deposit. Only for customers in Northern Ireland.

Tesco Bank Junior Isa

3.15%

£1 minimum initial deposit.

Taking the top-rate account from Coventry Building Society (which pays interest annually), by 2037 you could have a savings pot of £110,088.45 – earning £31,464.45 in interest.

That’s slightly less than what you’d earn in a stocks and shares Isa – but your money is not subject to the same risks, and you won’t need to pay fees, so some people may find this a preferable option.

Keep in mind that these interest rates are variable, so the providers could opt to increase or decrease them at any time. While you can’t close the account, you could opt to transfer the full balance to another provider if your interest is slashed.

Whether you choose a cash Isa or a stocks and shares Isa, you must stick to the Junior Isa allowance in each tax year.

The money saved in any Isa is tax-free – so no matter how much an Isa account earns in savings interest, neither you or your child will be liable to pay any tax.

Save £5-£100 per month. Rate drops to 1.51% in any month a withdrawal is made.

Unlike a Junior Isa, you can access the money if you need the extra funds, though Barclays will penalise you with lower interest and Halifax will require you to close the account.

All also require a certain amount to be deposited each month to qualify for the higher interest.

As the most you can save each month is £100, you’ll be looking at a significantly smaller savings pot when the funds are handed over to your child.

What’s more, the Halifax and Saffron BS accounts are only for children up to the age of 15, while Barclays is up to the age of 17. This means the amount of time you’re saving for is reduced as well.

The difference is such that, if you were to save the maximum £100 a month into the Halifax account for 15 years, you’d end up with £25,544.71 to give your child, earning a total interest of £7,544.71.

This amount of interest, however, could cause problems for your tax bill.

Unlike the Junior Isa, you and/or your child may have to pay tax on the interest earned in a savings account.

If the interest on the savings you put into your child’s account exceeds £100 a year before tax (or £200 if the money is from two parents), all of this interest will be added to your savings income and taxed as if it were your own. This may push you over your personal savings allowance – which is £1,000 for basic-rate payers and £500 for higher-rate payers.

Saving for your child’s pension

Setting up a pension pot for your child can be a great boost for when they reach retirement, especially as the money could benefit from 55 years of compounding.

Your child can take over control of the pension when they reach 18, and continue to save into it, but they won’t be able to access the funds until they reach 55.

While you’ll be able to rest easy that the money won’t be squandered on any young adult whims, they also won’t be able to use the funds to help with things like their first home, weddings or other pre-retirement milestones.

You can pay up to £2,880 a year into a child’s pension, which isn’t much compared to what you could put away in a Junior Isa or children’s savings account.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/childrens-savings.jpgNew fire-risk fridge freezers uncoveredhttps://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/new-fire-risk-fridge-freezers-uncovered/
Mon, 18 Mar 2019 00:01:28 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=166864Two fire-risk fridges and freezers have been uncovered, less than four months before they will be banned when stronger fridge freezer safety standards come into force.

We’ve downgraded their score in our reviews to 0% after our fire tests revealed that they have flammable plastic backs.

See why some fridge freezers are a fire risk

Watch our video to see how this type of backing on a fridge freezer can dramatically accelerate the spread of flames in the event of a fire.

We only recommend fridges and freezers with flame-retardant backing. Use our backing checker below to verify the backing material used on hundreds of fridges and freezers.

If you already own a fridge, freezer or fridge freezer with a flammable plastic back, be assured that refrigerator fires are rare. Our 2018 research into government fire data found that only 8% of fires caused by faulty appliances were caused by refrigeration appliances. And while the backing could accelerate the spread of an existing fire, it isn’t the cause of fire itself.

Amica and Lec respond

Amica and Lec told us that they had stopped manufacturing plastic-backed refrigeration appliances and that the Amica FKR29653R and the Lec U5511S have been upgraded to have flame-retardant metal backs.

But we’ve recently bought both models and found that they had flammable backs, proving that some UK retailers still have remaining plastic-backed stock.

There’s no way to distinguish the upgraded versions of these products from the plastic ones because neither Amica or Lec agreed to change their model codes.

In both cases, our Don’t Buy recommendation relates to the plastic-backed version that’s still available to buy in shops. They will remain Don’t Buys until we can be sure the plastic version is no longer available.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Fridge-Fire-warning_Lead.jpgSurprising speaker brands topping our tests: are you paying too much for big brands?https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/surprising-speaker-brands-topping-our-tests-are-you-paying-too-much-for-big-brands/
Sun, 17 Mar 2019 00:03:00 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=167244Surprise successes and disappointing flops have been revealed in our recent months of audio testing. Plus some remarkable trends have developed, with some lesser-known and unheard-of brands excelling in our expert lab tests while duds from the big-brand competition have become more prevalent.

Our latest speaker tests include models from Audio Pro, Marley, Bluesound and Fresh ‘n Rebel, including two stylish portable speakers that look ideal for using out and about, and two home Alexa speakers for controlling with your voice.

When choosing the perfect smart speakers with voice control, there are two leading voice assistants – Alexa and Google Assistant. With these assistants now being able to control various elements in your home, such as lighting, the choice of voice assistant is becoming more important.

We compare our Alexa and Google Assistant speaker scores to see which voice assistant is currently built in to the best products.

Audio Pro A10, £179

Audio Pro is a brand aimed at audiophile hi-fi enthusiasts, but the Audio Pro A10 is remarkably reasonably priced. It’s a smart speaker available in light and dark grey with Alexa voice control. It follows the usual cylindrical smart speaker design like the Amazon Echo, but also has the option of wall-mounting so it doesn’t take up space in your home.

You can also connect two together for stereo sound and set up a multi-room setup with other speakers in Audio Pro’s extensive range.

But is Audio Pro really a brand you can rely on for great sound quality? Why isn’t it better known? Our professional listening panel give their definitive verdict of this speaker in our Audio Pro A10 review.

Bose Home Speaker 500, £349

One of the biggest brands in speakers alongside Sonos, the high-end Bose Home Speaker with Alexa voice control promises ‘the widest sound of any smart speaker’ with ‘wall-to-wall sound’.

Unusually, it sports stereo speakers, and features a display on its front for interacting with the speaker. Music streaming services supported include Spotify, TuneIn radio, Amazon Music and Deezer.

Marley No Bounds (EM-JA015), £60

The Marley No Bounds is a small Bluetooth speaker that looks perfect for attaching to your bag or clothes using the detachable carabiner clip. It’s even fully water- and dust-proof (IP67), so you don’t need to worry about it surviving if you get caught out in the rain.

Marley also touts the ‘mindfully sourced’ materials this speaker is made from, including recycled cork, which also means this speaker is buoyant if you accidentally drop it in the pool.

Bluesound Pulse Flex 2i, £299

Like Audio Pro, Bluesound products are typically found in audio independent stores and dent a huge hole in your wallet. However, the sleekly-minimalist Bluesound Pulse Flex 2i is one of its more affordable options.

It features Alexa so you can control it hands-free with only your voice. It also offers full multi-room support so you can connect two of these speakers together for stereo sound, connect it to other speakers in the Bluesound range and even use it as part of a surround sound system for home entertainment with your TV.

Google Home Max, £399

With the Google Home Max, Google set out to raise the standards for smart speaker audio. However, at a considerable price premium over competitors, are you paying extra just for the brand?

It’s a stereo sound smart speaker with Google Assistant voice control, and also Chromecast, so you’re able to connect it up to other speakers that support Chromecast from rival brands. And if you have a big budget, you can also connect two of these speakers together for true stereo like a traditional hi-fi.

A huge range of radio and music streaming services are supported (may require subscriptions), and the Home Max even has a Smart Sound feature which analyses the size of the room the speaker’s in to optimise the sound for its environment.

A speaker can have all the technical wizardry in the world, but ultimately does the sound quality deliver, is it easy to use and how does it compare with rivals? Find all this out and more in our definitive Google Home Max review.

Fresh ‘n Rebel Rockbox Slice, £40

Fresh ‘n Rebel may sound like the kind of brand offering style over substance, but we’ve been surprised by brands like this before. The Rockbox Slice features what many would consider the ideal shape for a portable Bluetooth speaker – it fits perfectly in your back pocket, even when wearing skinny jeans.

It sports an exposed bass radiator at its back which aims to deliver more powerful bass despite its compact size. There’s even a handy 3.5mm aux-in socket and 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable supplied, if you want to connect it to devices such as an MP3 player.

Alexa vs Google Assistant speakers: which have the best sound quality?

We’ve now reviewed well over 30 smart speakers with voice control currently on the market. Some support Alexa, and some Google Assistant. So how do you choose? It’s especially important if you’re planning to buy other devices that are only compatible with one, or are looking to combine multiple speakers together into a multi-room setup.

Below we’ve analysed the scores of all Alexa and Google Assistant speakers we’ve tested to find out whether Alexa or Google Assistant speakers are the best to go for. We’ve found that while the best Alexa and Google Assistant speakers have similar scores, the average quality of Google Assistant speakers in our tests are considerably higher.

Google Assistant speakers also support Chromecast, which means you can connect multiple speakers from rival brands together if you want to buy more over time. Just look for whether the speaker has Chromecast built-in.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Speakers-Bose-v-Audio-Pro-MAIN.jpgFour in 10 homebuyers view under five propertieshttps://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/four-in-10-homebuyers-view-under-five-properties/
Sun, 17 Mar 2019 00:02:57 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=166770Almost 40% of British homebuyers viewed fewer than five properties before buying their current home, new Which? research has found.

Nine per cent of buyers viewed only one property, while 7% viewed 20 or more, according to our January survey of more than 1,200 recent homebuyers.

Find out what’s happening where you live, discover property-viewing tips and hear from a first-time buyer who bought after a single viewing at an open day, below.

If you’re house-hunting and want impartial help finding and applying for the best mortgage for you, call Which? Mortgage Advisers on 0800 197 8461 or fill in the form at the bottom for a call back.

Buyers in Scotland viewing fewer properties

The research, conducted in January, found that property-viewing behaviour differed depending on where in the UK people were buying – and while many found their home after seeing just a handful of properties, this wasn’t the case across the board.

Approximately 82% viewed at least five properties, and in the West Midlands, 22% visited 15 or more homes.

In Scotland, on the other hand, 15% only viewed one property before making an offer. This could be partly due to the fact that sellers in Scotland have to provide a home report containing key information about the property, including a survey, up front.

Why should you view more than one property?

If you fall in love with the first property you look round, it can be tempting to make an offer without seeing anything else. However, there are advantages to viewing multiple properties.

Firstly, it allows you to build up a better sense of what you really want from a home. For example, if having outside space wasn’t on your list of must-haves but then you view a second property with a garden, you might realise that actually it’s an important part of your wishlist.

Similarly, if you’d originally ruled out places with fewer than three bedrooms but then you view a two-bed home with a loft that’s ripe for conversion, you might relax your criteria.

The other advantage of viewing multiple properties is that it helps you understand how much homes in your area are worth. Once you’ve seen a few places and compared their specifications and asking prices, you’ll be armed with much better information when it comes to making an offer.

Buying in a competitive area

Although the media is full of reports of a cooling housing market, some areas of the UK remain competitive for buyers. This can sometimes lead sellers to hold open days, where multiple buyers view the home at the same time.

In some places, the sealed bids or ‘best-and-final offers’ system – which requires potential buyers to submit offers by a set deadline, with the seller then comparing the offers and choosing which one to accept – is still being used, too.

Design director Jen Dennis had to submit a sealed bid on the flat she’s buying with her husband

Jen Dennis, a 33-year-old design director, is in the process of buying a property in Walthamstow, east London, which she viewed on an open day.

She says: ‘It was like there were clones of me and my husband everywhere – we were surrounded by people in exactly the same position, with decent jobs and deposits, at the same stage in their lives and falling in love with the same flat.

‘The volume of people made me feel very apprehensive.’

The bidding process

The estate agent then told the couple that the property would be going to sealed bids.

‘We didn’t know what that meant! Luckily we had a friend who was also a first-time buyer and had just been through the sealed bids process herself. She had bid above the asking price, which made us feel better about the high offer that we submitted,’ Jen says.

‘We took a walk on the Sunday to decide on everything, which was so important for us. It’s a process that makes you panic and so we spent a lot of time researching other properties on the street and being very logical about our offer.

‘In the end, we decided that although our offer was high, the flat was worth that much to us. The huge number felt like we were playing with fake money; it all felt quite surreal.’

As part of the bidding process the couple were asked to prove their deposit, provide a mortgage agreement in principle (AIP), and explain their current position and when they’d be able to move. Jen says, ‘I also included a letter telling them a bit about ourselves and how much we loved the property.’

This strategy combined with the couple’s organised approach obviously worked, as their offer was accepted and they are now waiting to exchange.

Property-viewing tips

If you’re house-hunting, here are a few things you should bear in mind:

Check your budget: An online mortgage calculator will give you a rough idea of how much you can borrow but for an accurate guide, speak to an independent mortgage adviser. Doing this before starting viewings could avoid heartbreak further down the line if you can’t borrow as much as you thought.

View the property you like more than once: Check it out at different times of day so you can see how the light and noise levels change. The same applies to the neighbourhood – find out what it’s like at busy commuting times and when the pubs close.

Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions: This is likely to be the biggest investment of your life so don’t be shy. Ask the estate agent if you don’t want to make things awkward with the seller.

Use all your senses: A property viewing isn’t all about what you can see. Take notice of smells, both good and bad – lots of air freshener might be there to mask the smell of damp – and listen carefully for traffic, neighbour and aircraft flightpath noise.

Keep your emotions at bay: House-hunting can be deeply emotional but falling in love with a property can be dangerous, particularly before you’ve made an offer and had a survey.

Get one-to-one mortgage advice

Whether you’re at the start of your property-buying journey or ready to make an offer, a whole-of-market broker can explain the mortgage process, tell you how much you can realistically expect to borrow, and help you find and apply for a deal.

The friendly team at Which? Mortgage Advisers can help with all of the above – you can call for a free consultation on 0800 197 8461 or fill in the form below and they’ll call you back.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Which? Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Which? Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 527029). Which? Mortgage Advisers and Which? Money Compare are trading names of Which? Financial Services Limited.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GettyImages-162532653.jpgJML Aero 360 Pro – does this inflatable device mean the end of ironing?https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/jml-aero-360-pro-does-this-inflatable-device-mean-the-end-of-ironing/
Sun, 17 Mar 2019 00:01:04 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=166483If the thought of ironing your shirts leaves you feeling deflated, the Aero 360 Steam Pro could be what you’re missing. It promises to get clothes crease-free in minutes without having to go near an ironing board.

The idea behind the Aero 360 Steam Pro is simple. It inflates underneath a shirt or top and uses a combination of hot air and tension to dry clothes without creases.

Available now to buy online, it costs £80 – around the same as a mid-priced iron. But does it actually save you any hassle and can it smooth creases effectively?

Watch our video below to see what happened when we tried it out, and keep reading to see how much difference it will make to your energy bills.

Alternatively, head to our Best Buy steam irons to see which are best at smartening up your shirts the old-fashioned way.

JML Aero 360 Pro video review – our first impressions

Find out what happened when we put the Aero 360 through its paces.

How does the Aero 360 Pro work?

To use the Aero 360, you take a damp top straight from the washing machine and place it over the hanger, attaching the clips to keep it in place.

The bag inflates to pull the top tight and push out creases. Hot air pumps out to dry it straight.

You can adjust the height and size of the bag for different clothes, but it’s limited to tops. So if you have trousers or dresses that need ironing, you won’t be able to get rid of your iron completely.

Does the Aero 360 Pro save you time and effort?

We found it quick and simple to set up the hanger and bag. At just half a metre wide, it takes up far less space than an ironing board.

Arranging each shirt over the bag is easy enough too, if a little fiddly. It took us a couple of minutes to thread the sleeves through, do up all the buttons and attach the weighted clips.

You’ll also need to stick around for a few seconds longer to smooth it down again once the bag is inflated. But you can then just walk away while it does the rest – so it’s less effort than ironing.

It takes longer than ironing overall. A cotton shirt takes around 10 minutes with the Aero 360 Pro, on top of the time it takes to set up each shirt. This is a few minutes longer than ironing would take.

The average time it took our experts to iron a shirt was six minutes and 42 seconds. So while it might save on effort, it’s not a speedier option.

How well does it tackle creases?

We managed to get pretty good results on both thinner and thicker fabrics. Our shirts dried without too many obvious creases on the main body and sleeves.

There’s a certain knack to getting the best results. We found that giving tops a smoothing over once the Aero 360 had inflated helped achieve a better finish.

In particular, smoothing the arms out helped get more air into the sleeves and produced good results on the back and front of them, something that can be tricky to achieve with an iron.

Unfortunately it doesn’t do a good job of thicker, fiddlier areas such as pockets, cuffs and collars. You really need an iron if you want to get a perfect finish.

It also wasn’t powerful enough to get rid of the most stubborn creases. So you’ll have to be quick getting your tops from the washing machine and on the Aero 360, or finish up with your iron afterwards.

If you’re looking for a well-priced iron that’ll get those edges perfectly crisp, we’ve rounded up the top five cheap steam irons that did brilliantly on our tests.

Is there anything to watch out for?

We found it difficult to set the time precisely using the control dial. When trying to set it to five minutes we found it stopped at anything between three and seven minutes, so you’ll have to keep coming back to check or adjust the time.

The bag sometimes hangs over the dial, which can also make it difficult to check the time at a glance.

The whole thing gets really hot when in use – including the hanger, bag and controls – and JML advises not touching it during or shortly after use.

This is OK if you’re not in a hurry, but waiting for it to cool down makes the whole process lengthier. When we tried it, the dial itself got really hot, which made it difficult to stop the machine early or add on more time.

It’s pretty noisy, similar to having a powerful hair dryer on, so you wouldn’t be able to have a normal conversation or hear the TV over it. But if you have space to use it in a separate room, that won’t matter too much.

However, irons can come with their own downsides, such as slippery handles, complicated controls and fiddly cleaning systems. Head to our easy-to-use steam irons to find out which irons are the most comfortable and simple to use.

Does the JML Aero 360 Pro use more energy than ironing?

The Aero 360 uses slightly more energy than an iron overall, so it will work out very slightly more expensive. Although the difference is so small you’re unlikely to notice it on your energy bills.

We worked out that if you do five shirts a week, it will add less than a £1 per year to your bill, compared with ironing the shirts yourself.

Should you buy it?

Whether or not the Aero 360 is worth your money depends on how much you hate ironing. It’s probably less hassle overall than setting up an ironing board and pressing out the creases yourself. And it does manage to get clothes dry and relatively crease-free in minutes.

So if on Sunday evenings you often find yourself out of time to wash, dry and iron your shirts for the week, and don’t really care about eradicating every single crease, this would do the job.

But it’s not perfect. It has a couple of annoying quirks that take some getting used to. And it didn’t achieve the precision finishes that you’d get with an iron.

So if you’re looking for really crisp shirts, you’re better off investing in a good iron.

Head to our steam iron reviews to find out which will make ironing less of a chore than you think.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/main.jpgWill your bank offer you the best rate when remortgaging?https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/will-your-bank-offer-you-the-best-rate-when-remortgaging/
Sat, 16 Mar 2019 00:01:44 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=166144Shopping around for a utility company or mobile phone provider can save you a pretty penny, but does loyalty pay when it comes to finding a new mortgage deal?

If you’re looking to remortgage, you might be tempted to stay with your current provider. After all, your bank already has access to your financial information, and it saves you the hassle of going through the application process with another lender.

For some homeowners, however, a show of loyalty can be costly, as banks don’t always reciprocate with better rates.

Here, we assess your options when you come to remortgage, and offer advice on how to find the best deal.

If you’re thinking of switching mortgages, you can get expert advice by calling Which? Mortgage Advisers on 0800 197 8461.

What is a product transfer?

When you remortgage with your current provider, this is known as a product transfer.

Data from UK Finance shows that nearly 1.2 million homeowners chose a product transfer in 2018, more than double the number who remortgaged with a different provider.

This can perhaps be put down to lenders proactively contacting borrowers as they come towards the end of their fixed-rate deal.

Product transfers aren’t the right move for everyone, however.

If you’re looking to significantly alter the terms of your loan – perhaps to increase your borrowing or pay off a Help to Buy equity loan – you’ll need to go through the formal remortgaging process instead.

Can existing borrowers get a better deal?

The mortgage market is highly competitive, with more than 50 lenders offering residential loans. This means the odds of your current lender offering the best rate are low, although some lenders may reward their longstanding customers.

David Blake of Which? Mortgage Advisers says: ‘In terms of loyalty, it very much depends on the lender. Some banks will offer existing customers the same or even slightly better rates than new customers, while for others the reverse will be true.’

We asked the 10 largest mortgage lenders in the UK if they offer better rates to existing customers, and – as you might expect – most remained tight-lipped about their retention strategies and offers. A handful, however, were more forthcoming:

TSB said that it offers specific fee-free products for existing borrowers, and regularly reviews its rates to ensure they’re ‘competitive, if not better’ than rates for new customers.

Yorkshire Building Society said that its rates for existing borrowers can sometimes be lower than those for new customers – although direct comparisons would be impossible because of different fee structures and incentives such as cashback.

HSBC and Coventry Building Society both said that they offer the same rates to new and existing customers.

Cheapest remortgage rates

When we looked at the cheapest initial rates on two and five-year fixed-rate remortgaging deals, we found that in almost all cases the lowest rates were available to both new and existing customers of the lender in question.

There were two notable exceptions, however. In the two-year fixed-rate market, at both 80% and 90% loan-to-value ratios, rates offered by Accord were not only better for existing customers than new customers, but they were market-leading overall.

The tables below show the best rates in the market for each loan-to-value ratio.

Two-year fixed-rate deals

Max loan-to-value

Lender

Initial rate

Revert rate

APRC

Fees

60%

Lloyds Bank

1.43%

4.24%

3.7%

£999

75%

Yorkshire BS

1.47%

4.25%

4.2%

£1,495

80%

Accord (existing customers)

1.63%

4.99%

4.3%

£1,495

90%

Accord (existing customers)

1.75%

4.99%

4.3%

£1,495

Source: Moneyfacts. 12 March. APRC represents the annualised interest over the life of the loan. Loan-to-value represents the loan as a percentage of the home’s value.

Source: Moneyfacts. 12 March. APRC represents the annualised interest over the life of the loan. Loan-to-value represents the loan as a percentage of the home’s value. Links in the above table take you to the relevant deal page on Which? Money Compare.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Which? Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Which? Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 527029). Which? Mortgage Advisers and Which? Money Compare are trading names of Which? Financial Services Limited.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/SM-iStock-698103030.jpgNew Which? Don’t Buy car exposed due to poor safetyhttps://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/new-which-dont-buy-car-exposed-due-to-poor-safety/
Sat, 16 Mar 2019 00:01:28 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=166947The Suzuki Ignis is a Which? Don’t Buy car, following major safety concerns for the driver and any child passengers after crash tests. Our latest tests have also revealed new Best Buy cars from the UK’s most popular SUVs – cars we’ve reviewed include the Volvo XC60 and Volkswagen Touareg.

More deaths and serious injuries result from head-on car crashes than any other type. In a crash that replicates a head-on collision, safety organisation Euro NCAP discovered the Suzuki Ignis has high risk for serious injuries for the driver and child passengers – scroll down to find out more.

This month we’ve also reviewed some of the UK’s most popular SUVs, including the Volvo XC60 – which was the most viewed car review on Which.co.uk last month. Plus we have full test results for the Volkswagen Touareg, Volkswagen T-Roc and Hyundai Santa Fe.

Our experts have also driven the latest generation of the world’s best-selling car, the all-new Toyota Corolla, following its major UK launch.

Find out what we thought of these cars through the links below.

Looking to buy a new car? Find out which are the best performers from our expert lab tests – see the top cars for 2019.

Why the Suzuki Ignis is a Which? Don’t Buy car

Watch the Euro NCAP video, below, to find out what happened when the safety organisation crash tested the Suzuki Ignis.

Keep reading for our verdict on this car.

The biggest problem with the £10,462 Suzuki Ignis is its poor safety in a front-on crash. Euro NCAP’s replication of a frontal collision, where the car is crashed into a deformable bar slightly offset from centre, revealed high risk for serious injury.

The dummy driver’s chest was depressed so much the level of protection was rated as ‘weak’. Protection for the lower legs was rated as ‘marginal’.

Even worse, for a six-year-old child dummy passenger in the car in this same test, protection for their chest was rated as ‘poor’, exceeding recommended safe limits. For a 10-year-old dummy passenger, neck tensile forces were rated as ‘weak’.

The Ignis did provide full body protection in the side barrier impact test and the more severe side pole test – where a deformable barrier is mounted on a trolley and driven at 50km/h into the side of the car at a right angle.

But due to its poor performance in the front collision crash tests, Euro NCAP gave the Ignis just three stars out of five for safety. At Which?, we take safety seriously. Any car that receives three stars or fewer in Euro NCAP tests is automatically a Which? Don’t Buy car.

The key problem for the Suzuki Ignis is that Suzuki’s safety pack, the dual-camera brake-support system (which automatically brakes if it detects an imminent collision at low speeds), is not fitted as standard. If it were, the car would score five stars out of five in Euro NCAP’s safety tests.

We don’t think safety is an option– and those that buy the entry-level version don’t even have this option:

The entry-level SZ3 version of the Ignis doesn’t support this safety pack

The mid-spec SZ-T Ignis can be ordered with it, but you have to pay £750 extra

It only comes as standard with the top-spec SZ5.

So our recommendation would be only to consider the SZ5 – that is, if the car is any good for driving, reliability and practicality.

What’s the Suzuki Ignis like to drive?

While the Suzuki Ignis takes trendy styling cues and a more spacious interior from SUVs to the city car market, the fun stops there. It simply doesn’t drive as well as its rivals.

It’s fine in the city, but it’ll quickly get breathless if you ever take it out of town. Meaning you’ll need to rev it hard, and it rapidly runs out of puff in fifth gear up hills.

Somewhat bizarrely for a city car, the Suzuki Ignis is available with Allgrip four-wheel-drive as an alternative to the standard front-wheel drive – not that you should ever attempt to take this underpowered car off-road.

There’s lots of road and wind noise, and the manual gear-change action is pretty notchy too. Steering is slow to react when you change the steering wheel and the steering lacks precision – it doesn’t even self-centre.

What’s more, driving isn’t fun – it has a bumpy ride at virtually all speeds (even after Suzuki altered the suspension a year after launch to improve this). There’s a lot of body roll as you turn corners, with the rear end pushing outwards.

Toyota Corolla, £21,300

The Toyota Corolla has racked up more sales than any other car since the first model launched way back in 1966. It’s a name that hasn’t been seen in the UK for more than a decade, but now it has undergone a major relaunch – and we have high expectations.

The Corolla name may have been missing from UK showrooms, but you could have still bought it under a different name – the Toyota Auris. The new Corolla is available as a five-door hatchback, a small saloon and an estate.

It’s a seemingly humble medium hatchback and a direct rival to the popular Ford Focus.

There’s now a choice of a more powerful hybrid engine, the 2.0-litre hybrid, in addition to the 1.8-litre already available on the famous Toyota Prius. This slight addition in capacity makes all the difference, making it 58hp more powerful taking the total to 178hp.

All models are front-wheel drive and the hatchback is also available as a conventional 1.2-litre six-speed manual petrol with 114hp.

So what have UK buyers been missing? Our experts give all the details – find out more in our first look Toyota Corolla review.

Volvo XC60, £35,415

The Volvo XC60 five-seat mid-sized SUV is one of the last Volvos available with a conventional petrol or diesel engine, as well as a plug-in hybrid. As Volvo has now committed all its new models launching from 2019 to be either hybrid or all-electric.

It’s smaller than the large Volvo XC90 and comes with avant-garde, non-aggressive styling. Which is refreshing when so many SUVs tend to be on the brash side.

XC60 UK drivers have four 2.0-litre turbocharged engines to choose from. This includes a plug-in hybrid option, alongside a petrol and two diesels.

So is this a worthy SUV to buy, or is it outclassed by rivals? Find out how it performs – and whether it lives up to Volvo’s reputation for safety – in our definitive Volvo XC60 review.

Volkswagen T-Roc, £18,148

The Volkswagen T-Roc has modern, yet understated, looks. This compact SUV takes elements from both the ever-popular VW Golf and VW Polo, with exterior dimensions roughly the same as the Golf medium hatchback.

It used to be the German firm’s smallest SUV, but now VW is making yet another, even smaller SUV – the Volkswagen T-Cross.

VW T-Roc drivers have the choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and a wide selection of engines:

Petrols range from 1.0-litre to 2.0-litre (115hp to 190hp)

Diesels from 1.6-litre to 2.0-litre (115hp to 150hp).

Depending on engine, there are choices of a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic or six-speed manual transmission.

Volkswagen Touareg, £45,377

The giant of Volkswagen’s SUV family, the all-new third generation Volkswagen Touareg 4×4 has grown even larger than its predecessor – now being both wider and even longer.

It launches with just one engine, a 286hp 3.0-litre V6 diesel. This is being joined by a lower-powered 231hp 3.0-litre in the first half of this year. A 367hp hybrid version is also on the cards, which we’ll review separately after it launches.

All Touaregs come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive.

The Touareg aims to be the ideal choice for practicality and comfort, with a huge boot, loads of space and the option of an air suspension system. It aims to please drivers with tenacious handling – we see whether a bulky car like this can really deliver.

Volvo V60 Cross Country, £38,270

There’s a tradition, dating way back to 1997, of Volvo offering ‘Cross Country’ mild off-road versions of its practical estate cars. The all-new Volvo V60 Cross Country, coming at a premium over the standard V60, sports four-wheel drive and a raised 6cm higher driving height to travel across rough ground with ease.

In the UK, there’s only the option of a 190hp 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Volvo claims it has the grunt to reach 62mph from standstill in only 8.2 seconds. Braked towing capacity is also claimed at an impressive two tonnes.

Meanwhile, we’ve found Don’t Buy cot mattresses for more than £150, proving that price doesn’t necessarily equal a great product.

But we’ve also found some that impress that cost £100 or more.

What do you get for £100 or less?

Some, but not all, cot mattresses at this price have a waterproof layer and a removable, machine-washable cover to help make it much easier to clean up accidents.

A foam version is generally the least expensive type and these are usually made from a piece of high-density foam.

The Ikea Krummelur (£45) and Ikea Skonast (£70) both have a fixed inner cover and a removable outer cover that can be cleaned at 60°C, so you can easily pop them into the wash to kill any germs or bacteria.

Popular cot mattresses for £100 or less

Ikea Krummelur – £45

The cheapest we’ve reviewed has features usually seen on much pricier mattresses, including a removable and washable cover with has a zip opening, and a pocket to hide the pull tab so your child can’t get access to the insides.

It also has one wavy side with medium-firm comfort and one smooth side that’s firmer. Find out one downside we discovered by reading our full Ikea Krummelur review.

John Lewis Premium Foam Cot Bed Mattress – £60

The washable cover of this is soft and cotton-rich, plus it has a quilted side for comfort and a water-resistant lining to protect it from any accidents.

Five tips to buy the best cot mattress, whatever your budget

A firm and flat mattress is safest for your baby, according to the Lullaby Trust. Assess this by pressing your hand firmly into the centre and edges of a mattress. There should be some resistance and it should bounce back immediately.

Size is key. There shouldn’t be any gaps between the mattress and the cot or cot bed where your baby could potentially trap limbs. The majority of those we test are 140cm x 70cm, but we’ve also tested some that are 120cm x 60cm.

Opt for one that’s at least 10cm thick to ensure that no part of your child’s body sinks through the mattress and touches the cot bed frame below.

A mattress cover is helpful in the case of accidents.

Your child will triple in weight developing from a baby into a pre-schooler, so a durable cot mattress that doesn’t lose body support or firmness is vital. Our cot mattress reviews tell you which will support best over time.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Main_cot-mattresses.jpgHP recalls more laptops affected by battery fire riskhttps://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/hp-recalls-more-laptops-affected-by-battery-fire-risk/
Fri, 15 Mar 2019 12:31:50 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=167275HP is recalling 78,500 laptops due to a battery overheating and subsequent fire risk, extending a recall that it first announced in January 2018 that involved 50,000 devices.

The models affected include a number of business laptops including various ProBook models, along with models in the Envy, x360 and Notebook range.

In a statement on HP’s website, the firm is urging anybody who uses an affected model to request a replacement battery and apply a software update that switches their battery into a safe mode, preventing it from charging.

You may be affected if you own an HP ProBook, ZBook, x360, Pavilion, ENVY, HP 11 or Mobile Thin Client model.

To find out what to do next, read on.

What models are affected?

The following laptop models are listed on HP’s website:

And these further models are compatible with the offending batteries, so if you’ve replaced or added a battery to any of these models, you should also check.

The models affected were sold between December 2015 and April 2018.

This extended recall was originally announced in January, but the news did not get widespread attention in the press until this week after the US Consumer Product Safety Commission had caught up after the extensive US government shutdown that started late last year.

In a statement to Which?, an HP spokesperson said: ‘The quality and safety of all HP products is our top priority. We learned that batteries provided by one of our suppliers for certain notebook computers and mobile workstations present a potential safety concern.

‘We took immediate action to address the issue and are replacing the batteries in question. This action pertains to approximately 0.1 percent of the HP systems sold globally during the recall time period.

Customers can visit HP’s website to learn if their battery should be replaced. Impacted customers will have their batteries replaced free of charge and may continue safely using their device by placing the battery in Safety Mode and connecting to an external power source.’

What should I do?

Download and run the Battery Validation Utility on HP’s website to find out if your battery is affected. If it is, follow the instructions provided by the utility or contact HP directly using the buttons on the recall webpage. Note: even if you checked your battery after last year’s recall, HP advises checking again because the recall has been widened to more products.

If your battery is shown to be one of the faulty models, the software utility will offer you a battery safety update that will prevent your battery from charging.

Many of the laptops involved do not have user-replaceable batteries and will require a qualified technician to undertake the replacement. HP says it will provide this service for free.

What are the risks?

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, HP has reported eight incidents of battery packs ‘overheating, melting or charring’ and reported one ‘minor injury’ and two reports of property damage totaling $1,100.

While the reported incidents are relatively minor, it’s still important to find out as soon as possible whether your laptop is at risk.

What are my rights?

To obtain repairs, you should not require proof of purchase; simply running the battery software tool and then contacting HP should be enough. You should also not be charged for any work undertaken.

Which continues to campaign for safer products. Visit our End Dangerous Products campaign page to find out more.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/HP.jpgThree ways smart bathroom scales can improve your healthhttps://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/three-ways-smart-bathroom-scales-can-improve-your-health/
Fri, 15 Mar 2019 11:17:07 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=163848Weighing yourself used to be straightforward – step on the scales and a number would state you had either lost or gained. But bathroom scales have come a long way since then.

Rather than simply telling you how much you weigh, even fairly cheap devices can now tell you exactly what your body is made of. In fact, composition analysis can now track everything from body fat and muscle mass to Body Mass Index (BMI), bone density and hydration level.

Knowing exactly how much of your body is made up of fat can tell you whether you’re achieving your health goals and alert you to potential health issues, such as being overweight, underweight, dehydrated or over-hydrated. Connect a smartphone or tablet and send readings wirelessly to an app – great for tracking progress over time and to make sure the lifestyle changes you’ve made are working.

Read on to find out how smart bathroom scales can help improve your overall health, and browse our list of the best bathroom scales for models that really pull their weight.

1. Find out your body fat percentage

Have you ever stepped on the scales after spending weeks on a health kick, only to find that your weight has barely changed? Traditional bathroom scales will tell you whether you’ve gained or lost weight but they won’t tell you whether you’ve gained or lost body fat or muscle.

A smart bathroom scale can tell you exactly how much of your body is made up of fat, including visceral fat – the deep abdominal fat that surrounds your organs. Visceral fat isn’t visible so even the thinnest people can have dangerous levels of it. Take a look at the smart bathroom scales that can measure visceral fat – only two performed well enough to become Best Buys.

If you have too much or too little body fat, you can modify your diet and lifestyle accordingly. Tracking your body composition over time can also let you know whether any lifestyle changes you’ve made, such as taking up running or changing your diet, have actually worked.

The problem with BMI

Most of us have also heard of measuring your Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine whether you’re overweight. However, BMI fails to differentiate between body fat, muscle mass and bone density. So a body builder could have the same BMI as a sumo wrestler – both could be classed as ‘overweight’ even though the body builder is mostly made up of muscle while the sumo wrestler has more body fat. We’ve tested bathroom scales that can measure muscle mass to find out which are most effective.

2. Set an accurate, realistic calorie limit

Some smart bathroom scales can tell you how many calories your body needs every day just to stay alive. This is known as your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), which is based on the amount of calories your body would need if it was resting for 24 hours and only needed to support vital functions, such as breathing, digesting food and pumping blood around your body.

As we age, our metabolic rate changes. After the age of 16 or 17, it typically starts to decrease. A low BMR means your body needs fewer calories, so to lose weight you would need to consume less. With a smart bathroom scale, you can calculate your metabolic age by comparing your BMR to the average BMR of your age group.

If your metabolic age is higher than your actual age, it’s a sign that you should improve your BMR by exercising more to gain more muscle mass. Increasing your muscle mass helps your BMR, meaning that the number of calories you burn increases. This in turn decreases your body fat percentage.

Determining your BMR allows you to monitor how many calories you need a day to maintain or lose weight. Bathroom scales that scan your whole body and measure your body composition are far more accurate than generic average male/female/age statistics used by online calculators. These scales are used and trusted by doctors and experts worldwide and you could have them in the comfort of your own bathroom.

3. Find out whether you’re dehydrated, or over-hydrated

Do you ever go through random periods of having headaches, feeling unusually tired, feeling lightheaded or having a dry mouth, lips or eyes? According to the NHS, these are all signs of dehydration, which can be caused by forgetting to drink enough or not realising you’re thirsty, which is common in children and older adults. Other symptoms include passing urine less than four times a day and having dark coloured, strong-smelling urine.

You can also be too hydrated, meaning your body is holding on to more water than your kidneys can remove. WedMD states the symptoms look similar to that of heatstroke or exhaustion. Other signs of over-hydration include nausea, headaches, diarrhea and changes in mental state such as confusion or disorientation. Untreated over-hydration can cause dangerously low levels of sodium in your blood, leading to severe symptoms such as seizures, unconsciousness or muscle weakness, spasms, and cramps.

Our water needs vary and fluctuate depending on age, the weather, our activity levels and overall health. So, even though there are recommended guidelines, there’s no exact formula on how much each individual should drink. Smart bathroom scales measure your total body water, which is useful for transporting waste, helping organs to function, regulating body temperature and digestion. These smart devices can save you a trip to the doctor by telling you how hydrated your body is.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Beurer-BF-700-Bluetooth-Diagnostic-Scale.jpgIs now the best time to buy a new TV?https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/is-now-the-best-time-to-buy-a-new-tv/
Fri, 15 Mar 2019 00:02:09 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=166141When a product gets launched once a year, every year, it’s difficult to know when to take the plunge. By the time TVs reach their cheapest point, the successors are hot on their heels.

Do you wait and see if any of the new features are ones you can’t do without, or throw caution to the wind and buy one of the previous year’s best sets?

The fear of missing out is a big factor and the typically high price of newly launched TVs means waiting eight months for them to become more affordable is desirable and, in some cases, necessary.

So if you’re stuck in a cycle of indecision with an old TV on its last legs in desperate need of replacing, thankfully we can shed some light on the situation.

We know what’s coming in 2019 from the big four manufacturers (LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony), plus we’ve kept a tab on the prices of the most popular sets from Black Friday to see if there’s any benefit in waiting a few more months.

TVs going cheap?

The prices of some TVs drop by hundreds of pounds within a few weeks of launch, but the biggest dips tend come around November time during every Currys PC World staff member’s favourite day of the year – Black Friday.

This kickstarts the busy shopping period that leads up to the January sales and we typically see TV prices bottom out, some by as much as 50%. But, do they go back up again? Retailers need to make space for the new models, so it wouldn’t make sense to drive the prices back up to what they were pre-Black Friday.

The 10 TVs below were the most popular on which.co.uk the week of Black Friday last year. We’ve noted their price on the day itself and their price now to see if there’s much of a difference.

40% of the most popular TVs have had a price increase, but only a very slight one. 40% of the TVs maintained their low price, while only two out of the 10 got any cheaper.

It’s worth holding out if you want a high-end TV…

The LG OLED55B8PLA stands out for a number of reasons. It’s an OLED, it’s by far the most expensive of the bunch, and it has the biggest difference in price from Black Friday. Thankfully, the price has gone in a direction we like – down.

We decided to look at some more high-end sets to see if their prices have dropped in the new year.

The LG OLED55C8PLA was £1,699 on Black Friday and hasn't got any cheaper since

The Panasonic TX-55FZ802B OLED is £1,499, £200 less than it was on Black Friday

Samsung's high-end QLED, the QE55Q7FN, has dropped by £100 since Black Friday and now costs £1,299

They’ve dropped in price, even the LG OLED which is £1,000 cheaper now than it was at launch, but all these high-end sets will still set you back more than a grand. Read our reviews of the LG OLED55C8PLA, Panasonic TX-55FZ802B, and Samsung QE55Q7FN to see if any of them are worth it.

…but not if you’re after a more affordable one

It appears that the Black Friday to January sales period is when cheaper TVs are cheapest. Only the £1,000-plus high-end models continue to fall in price, so if you’ve got your eye on something around the £600 mark or lower then you might as well pick it up earlier and recycle your old set.

Are you missing out if you buy a 2018 TV?

They are not out yet, but we know plenty about the TVs coming from the big four brands, and there are no groundbreaking features that are set to change the TV landscape. That is unless you can afford LG’s rollable OLED or one of Samsung or Sony’s 8K TVs.
That said, LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony are promising improvements on their new TVs. Here are a few notable advancements.

Samsung
The Quantum processor is the headline feature of Samsung’s 2019 QLED range. It brings the AI upscaling technology, which boosts standard definition content to close to 8K quality from Samsung’s 8K range, into many of its 4K models. This could make the QLEDs the best sets in 2019 to watch SD and HD content.

LG
Samsung isn’t the only brand upping its processor game, the second generation Alpha 9 is powering LG’s OLEDs in 2019. The new chip analyses every frame of footage to make it as sharp as possible. Once again it is 8K TVs which are driving this surge in upscaling tech. With no 8K content available, programmes and images must be boosted to close to that resolution or there’s literally no point in buying an 8K TV. It’s good to see this high-end tech filtering down into 4K TVs.

We still don’t know the full details of LG’s 2019 range, but everything we do know, as well as extensive information on its 2018 range, is in our guide on buying the best LG TV.

Panasonic
High dynamic range (HDR) content is becoming more widely available with iPlayer streams adding to the sizeable libraries on Netflix and Amazon Video. Panasonic’s 2019 TVs will be the first to support the two most advanced formats: HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. Both of these formats could eventually replace HDR10 as the industry standard, but currently different studios and streaming services support different formats and a TV that supports both ensures you’re getting the optimal HDR image.

There’s more coming to Panasonic’s TVs than just an extra HDR format. Read about all the ranges and tech in our Panasonic TV guide.

Sony
With an 8K TV in its lineup, Sony has also improved its upscaling technology in its new X1 Ultimate processor, which is also powering its flagship AG9 OLED. Sony is aiming to make its TVs the best choice for streaming and movies with Netflix and IMAX certifications. Netflix calibrated mode means the TV is tuned to suit Netflix’s swathe of original content, and IMAX Enhanced helps big screens capture some of the immersion you get from enormous IMAX displays.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Buying-TV-indecisive-New-Main.jpg11 price rises hitting your wallet in April 2019https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/11-price-rises-hitting-your-wallet-in-april-2019/
Fri, 15 Mar 2019 00:02:08 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=166416When April rolls around, your household bills are likely to be more expensive, as energy companies, local authorities, the NHS and even the Post Office raise their prices.

The new tax year often brings price increases, as businesses and service providers raise their bills in line with (and sometimes above) the rate of inflation. This year will also see a number of tax changes that could put a strain on your finances.

Here’s a roundup of every bill that’s set to rise this April, and some tips on keeping your costs down.

1. Council tax

A recent survey found that 97% of local authorities plan to increase council tax this year, with three-quarters of them planning rises of more than 2.5%.

The government has confirmed that 4.99% will be the highest council tax increase, but you won’t know exactly how much your bill has grown by until it lands in your letterbox towards the end of March.

Money-saving: There’s no real way to avoid this hike (unless you move into a house with a lower band), but you may be eligible for council tax discounts.

You can get a 25% single-person discount if you live alone or with a full-time student. And if you think your house has been wrongly classified, you can apply to change your council tax band, which again could lower your bill.

2. TV licences

Starting on 1 April, the TV licence fee will rise to £154.50 – a £4 increase on last year.

Over-75s don’t have to pay licence fees at the moment, but there’s a chance this could change in 2020 when the BBC loses crucial government funding.

Money-saving: Again, you’ll struggle to avoid this increase – unless you stop watching all live TV and BBC iPlayer, in which case you’ll need to fill out a No Licence Needed declaration. You could also downgrade to a black and white TV set (which has a much cheaper £52 licence fee) if Ultra HD isn’t your cup of tea.

3. Energy bills

Energy regulator Ofgem introduced a price cap this January, which was originally expected to save households on default tariffs £76 a year. A few months later, Ofgem has raised the cap.

A typical household is now expected to pay £117 extra from April, with some potentially paying more than they did before the cap was introduced. All of the big six energy providers (British Gas, EDF, Eon, Npower, Scottish Power and SSE) have said they will increase their prices in line with the cap.

Money-saving: In the face of this price rise, you should consider switching energy suppliers to find a cheaper tariff. Use an independent switching website like Which? Switch to find the best deals in your area.

4. Water bills

Water UK found that water and sewerage bills across England and Wales are set to rise by 2% on average from 1 April. The group says this will leave the average household £8 worse off a year, but the increase will depend heavily on individual circumstances, affecting different customers in different ways.

Money-saving: Your water supplier depends entirely on where you live, so switching to another one isn’t an option. If you’re on a metered bill, the only thing you can do is try to keep your water use as efficient as possible.

5. Stamps

The rise in the price of First Class and Second Class stamps will actually come into effect a few days before April, on 25 March.

Standard First Class stamps will now cost 70p each, with Second Class stamps costing 61p – an increase of 3p in both cases.

Money-saving: Your best bet for beating these prices is buying stamps in bulk before the rise comes into effect. The Post Office Shop website has packs of 12 First Class stamps for sale at £8.04, which works out as 67p per stamp.

6. NHS prescriptions

NHS prescriptions, which currently cost £8.80 for those that need to pay for them, will rise to £9 on 1 April. Other NHS items, such as wigs, surgical bras and spinal supports, will also increase in price.

Money-saving: While these charges are rising, prescription payment certificates – which cover the cost of unlimited prescriptions for a set period – will remain at £104 a year or £29.10 for three months. If you know you’ll need more than three prescriptions over three months, or more than 11 in a year, this will work out cheaper.

7. Car tax

Changes to the Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) car tax take effect on 6 April, with some drivers expected to pay up to £65 more.

Your VED rate depends on two factors: your car’s CO2 emissions, and when it was registered.

Many motorists will only have to pay £5 more each year, as this is the most common increase to the standard VED rate. But due to increases in first year VED rates, anyone who buys a high-polluting new vehicle in 2019-20 will have to pay £65 more than they would have in the previous tax year.

Money-saving: Buying a car is a serious decision that will depend on more than car tax – but keep in mind that switching to a lower-polluting car will lower your VED, and electric cars (which emit no CO2) are charged no VED at all.

8. Sky TV and broadband

From April, Sky customers will have to pay more for almost all of the brand’s services.

Sky Entertainment, Ultimate On Demand, Fibre Max, and Fibre Unlimited packages will all cost £2 more each month, while Sky Broadband Unlimited bills will increase by £1.

Money-saving: If you’re a longtime customer, it’s worth attempting to haggle with Sky to try to get a better deal. You could cancel your membership, but if you’re within your minimum term, you’ll struggle to leave without paying a fee. If you’re not satisfied with Sky’s service, you could complain to Sky directly, or go to the CISAS alternative dispute resolution service if that doesn’t get results.

9. Mobile network bills

Four of the UK’s biggest mobile networks have announced they will be increasing their prices close to retail price index (RPI) inflation. O2 and Three customers will see 2.5% increases, while EE customers will pay 2.7% more than they did last year. Vodafone will also base its price increases on inflation, but they are yet to announce a specific figure.

Money-saving: Again, haggling could be your best bet here. If you’re not locked into your contract, look into switching networks to find a better package. Find out if you can cancel your contract without a penalty in our cancellation rights guide.

10. State pension top-ups

If you didn’t pay into National Insurance for a few years – for example, you were off work or overseas – you can opt to pay class 3 contributions to top up your state pension.

You’ll need 35 years of National Insurance contributions (NICs) to qualify for the full state pension, either from working or receiving credits.

Until 6 April, the amount you’ll pay for class 3 NICs will differ depending on which tax year they apply to. If you want to plug a gap from 2010/2011, for example, it’ll cost £12.05 per week.

When the 2019-20 tax year begins, all voluntary NIC payments will cost £15 a week, no matter which tax year you are paying for. So if you want to pay for the entire 2010/2011 tax year, it’ll cost you £153.40 more from 6 April.

Money-saving: If you do want to pay voluntary NICs, it’s certainly better to do it before this price rise. However, if you’re undecided, it’s worth reading our recent news story on voluntary NICs to see if it’ll be worth it for you.

11. Proposed probate fee hike

The government is currently considering legislation that would change the way probate fees work, making it free for some estates, but hiking prices for others.

When a person dies, you need to apply for authorisation to mange their estate – known as applying for probate. Currently, all estates pay a flat fee of £215 for a probate application.

Under the new model, estates worth less than £50,000 would pay nothing. Fees are then charged on a sliding scale – estates worth less than £300,000 would pay £250, while those worth less than £500,000 would pay £750. The fees then escalate rapidly, so that those worth more than £2m would pay £6,000.

You can see the full set of proposed fees in the table below.

Value of estate (before inheritance tax)

Proposed fee

Up to £50,000

£0

£50,000 – £300,000

£250

£300,001 – £500,000

£750

£500,001 – £1,000,000

£2,500

£1,000,001 – £1,600,000

£4,000

£1,600,001 – £2,000,000

£5,000

£2,000,000 +

£6,000

The changes were supposed to come into effect from 1 April 2019, but have not yet passed into law.

Sam McFaul contributed additional reporting to this article.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/bills-2.pngSecond-charge mortgages on the rise – but is remortgaging a better option?https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/second-charge-mortgages-on-the-rise-but-is-remortgaging-a-better-option/
Fri, 15 Mar 2019 00:01:56 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=166210Second-charge mortgages are becoming more popular with homeowners, but is it ever wise to secure another debt against your home?

Nearly 2,000 second-charge mortgages were granted in January, as an increasing number of homeowners looked to borrow against their properties without remortgaging, according to the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA).

But is a second-charge mortgage really a risk worth taking? Here, we explain how these loans work and offer advice on the pros and cons of further borrowing.

While second-charge mortgages can allow you to make the most of any equity you’ve built up, they remain a risky option, as you’ll be saddling your home with further debt.

When you apply for a second-charge mortgage, you’ll have to undergo credit checks and stress-testing to satisfy the lender that you’ll be able to pay back the loan. They’ll also require your property to be valued in order to work out how much equity you hold based on what it’s currently worth.

Second-charge mortgage market grows

New data from the FLA shows that 1,945 second-charge loans were granted in January, at a total value of £85m – that’s an increase of 18% year-on-year.

But, despite this rise in popularity, second-charge loans make up a very small proportion of the overall mortgage market. Indeed, just 23,829 loans were granted in the whole of 2018.

Fiona Hoyle of the FLA says: ‘The second-charge mortgage market has made an impressive start to 2019.

‘As most of this market is broker-introduced, it suggests that knowledge of second charge mortgages among brokers is growing.’

Reasons to avoid a second-charge mortgage

Even if the above makes sense, second-charge mortgages are highly risky – after all, you’ll be increasing the risk of losing your home if you default.

You should avoid taking out a second-charge mortgage if any of the following applies:

You can raise funds more cheaply by remortgaging or getting a personal loan.

You want to consolidate debts such as credit cards or smaller unsecured loans. Second-charge deals could lead you to paying more interest in the long run, and you’ll be shifting an unsecured debt to a secured debt, putting your home at risk.

You’re only just managing to meet your current mortgage repayments.

What if I sell my home?

If you decide to move, the original mortgage you took out on the property will need to be settled first.

Once this is cleared, you’ll need to pay back the second mortgage – and the lender has the right to pursue this legally if you fail to do so.

Second-charge mortgages and LTV ratios

When you take out a traditional mortgage, the amount you’re borrowing is set against the total value of the property.

So, if you’re buying a home worth £200,000 and you have a £20,000 deposit, you’ll be borrowing £180,000 – that’s 90% loan-to-value (LTV).

Second-charge mortgages work slightly differently.

When you take out a second-charge loan, the combined debt on your existing mortgage and the second-charge mortgage can’t be above the stated maximum LTV – and the best rates are only available up to a total of 65% or 70% LTV.

So if you’ve built up to hold half of the equity in your £200,000 home (£100,000) through a combination of the deposit you originally put down and the repayments you’ve made since, you’ll only be able to take out a maximum of 15% of the property’s value to get a second-charge mortgage at an LTV of 65%.

As ever, the equity you have in your home – and the amount you’ve paid off on your mortgage – has a significant effect on the rate you can achieve.

Second-charge mortgage rates

The cost of second-charge mortgages has dropped significantly in the past year or two, meaning you can now get a product taking you up to 70% LTV at a rate of less than 4%.

Both fixed-rate (for periods of two or five years) and variable-rate (based on the lender’s standard variable rate – SVR – or the base rate plus or minus a certain margin) deals are available, though the cheapest rates right now are on variable products. When taking out one of these mortgages, you may need to pay a broker fee – which can add a significant expense to the overall cost of the loan.

Second-charge mortgages tend to be offered by specialist lenders, such as Paragon Bank, United Trust Bank, Prestige and Shawbrook – and it is Paragon that currently offers market-leading rates.

The table below shows the lowest advertised rates on second-charge mortgages at different LTV levels.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Which? Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Which? Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 527029). Which? Mortgage Advisers and Which? Money Compare are trading names of Which? Financial Services Limited.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/MortgagesWEB2018.jpgWe’ve just found the best nappy of 2019https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/weve-just-found-the-best-nappy-of-2019/
Fri, 15 Mar 2019 00:01:38 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=166189A nappy that’s comfortable for your baby and doesn’t leak is a lifesaver for parents. We’ve put top nappy brands to the test to find out which is best, including Pampers, Lidl’s Lupilu and Tesco’s Fred & Flo.

Read on for the full list of those we’ve tested plus how they compare on scores for leakage, keeping wetness locked in and more.

*Prices correct as at 9 March 2019, price per nappy based on the pack size/cost. Nappies may work out cheaper if you buy a larger size.

The best vs worst nappies…

…for absorbing wetness during the day and at night

The best nappies we’ve tested get five stars for absorbing wetness during the day. This means they soak up wetness straight away, reducing the chance of leaks.

The worst get just two stars, and soak up half the amount of fluid, which means there’s more chance the contents can leak.

We test ‘absorbing wetness at night’ separately. That’s because a nappy worn overnight will have to soak up a lot more and could be left on for much longer.

We’ve found the best nappy soaks up more than six times what the worst we’ve tested can manage at night.

When we test nappies for absorption, each nappy is soaked with a measured amount of synthetic urine, and allowed to stand to give an indication of how quick you will need to change your baby’s nappy.

…for preventing leaks

A decent nappy needs to prevent the wetness from reaching the outside. But our testing has proved that there’s a massive difference between the best and the worst nappies at preventing leaks.

The best nappy we tested scored five stars at preventing leaks. In our test it had no leakage, that means no soggy babygrows to sort out over Sunday lunch, or damp bedsheets to deal with at dawn.

The worst got just one star, with lots of wetness escaping outside the nappy cuffs and underneath the nappy, too.

…for keeping wetness away from your baby’s skin

An effective nappy needs to keep wetness away from your baby’s skin to make sure the little one remains comfortable, and help prevent nappy rash.

The best nappies on test let through almost no wetness, while the worst failed to hold all the wetness inside the nappy, letting some back out.

To investigate how good each nappy is at keeping moisture in the nappy and not on your baby’s skin, we test using filter paper on top of a fully fluid-loaded nappy.

We weigh the filter paper down to see how much wetness comes back out. This is designed to replicate the weight of your baby on top of a loaded nappy.

…for value for money

Assessing nappies in our laboratory is a great way to measure and test absorbency, wetness and leaks in a scientific way, but we know that all babies are different, so we haven’t just relied on lab testing to work out which are the best nappies.

We’ve also asked 3,445 parents and carers to tell us about the brand of nappies they use the most and ask them to rate comfort, fit, easy of use and value for money.

The cheapest nappies we’ve tested work out at roughly 5p per nappy, and the most expensive on test work out at around five times more expensive, at 25p per nappy.

We also asked how satisfied parents were and if they’d recommend the brand currently being used.

Are your nappies not among those we’ve just tested? Find out how they rate in our roundup of the best nappy brands.

]]>https://dwkujuq9vpuly.cloudfront.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/main_nappy-story.jpgWhat will Brexit mean for your travel, car and pet insurance?https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/03/what-will-brexit-mean-for-your-travel-car-and-pet-insurance/
Fri, 15 Mar 2019 00:01:37 +0000https://www.which.co.uk/news/?p=166964Parliament was again the scene of heated exchanges this week, as the Brexit saga continued to spread uncertainty across the UK.

On Wednesday 13 March, MPs shocked the government and voted by 312 to 308 to reject a no-deal Brexit under any circumstances.

The vote, which is not binding, could still mean that the UK leaves the EU without a Withdrawal Agreement on 29 March.

Last night, MPs voted to extend Article 50 and delay Brexit. The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has said that Brexit could be delayed for three months, although the delay could last longer.

If the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019 without a Withdrawal Agreement in place, it will have an effect on the way that your insurance policies might work.

Here, we take a look at how a no-deal Brexit might affect your car, travel and pet insurance policies.

What might a no-deal Brexit mean for your car insurance?

The good news is that after Brexit, all car insurance providers will continue to provide the legal minimum cover for travel to countries in the European Economic Area (EEA).

This means that you won’t need to purchase additional insurance if you travel to these countries with a UK-registered vehicle.

The not-so-convenient- news, however, is that if the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019 without a Withdrawal Agreement in place, you will need to make sure you carry a physical Green Card when driving to Europe, including the Republic of Ireland.

A Green Card is an international certificate of insurance which is issued by insurance companies in the UK. They guarantee that drivers have the car insurance cover to be driving in the country that they’re travelling to and through. You can see a full list of countries in the EEA on GOV.UK.

Green Cards have to specify the licence plate number of each individual vehicle travelling in your group. This means that if you’re travelling with multiple cars, trailers, towed vehicle or even a classic car, you’ll need to get Green Cards for them too.

In new guidance, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) warned drivers to check with their insurance provider as soon as possible to ensure that they get a Green Card if needed in time if they plan on driving to Europe after 29 March.

Driving without a Green Card may be considered breaking the law – similar to driving without insurance in the UK – and could leave you subject to a fine, having your vehicle seized or prosecution.

If you plan on traveling after Brexit and haven’t yet bought insurance, look at policies that have good cancellation cover, which will pay out if your flight or holiday is cancelled due to Brexit-related disruption – and buy early as possible to ensure that your trip is protected.

if you already have cover, check with your travel insurance provider if you’re travelling to an EEA country after 29 March 2019 to see whether or not you’ll be covered.

A European Health Insurance Card (Ehic)is a free medical card, which can be used throughout the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It entitles you to treatment in state hospitals at the same price as residents of the country you’re visiting.

Ehics are a handy accompaniment to a comprehensive travel insurance policy and should not be considered a replacement for buying travel cover.

As well as medical expenses, travel insurance covers the cost of cancelling your holiday if you need to return home early, as well as covering you for lost or stolen luggage.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the Ehic will not be valid after 29 March. If a Brexit deal is agreed, Ehics should remain in operation until December 2020.

It is unknown what will happen after that – the UK has stated that wants to keep the Ehic in place as part of future trade negotiations with the UK.

Insurers have warned that premiums could rise as a result of Brexit and the loss of the Ehic, and that some people who may struggle to get affordable travel insurance because of ill health may not be covered without an Ehic.

Will insurance premiums increase after Brexit?

It’s difficult to say what effect Brexit will have on insurance premiums until the terms of the UK’s withdrawal are confirmed.

What we can do, is take a look at how insurance premiums have reacted in the past.

For example, in the second quarter of 2016 when the EU Referendum vote was announced, the average car insurance premium spiked to £511 – up from £481 in the previous quarter. Premiums then increased again to £582 by the end of 2016, according to the Moneysupermarket Car Insurance Price Index.

The graph below shows the average car insurance premium from Q1 2013 to Q4 2018.

While these figures could suggest a correlation between the Brexit vote and insurance premiums increasing, there was another factor at play during this time.

An increase in Insurance Premium Tax from 6% to 12% was introduced from 1 June 2016.

This was reported to have caused an increase in insurance prices for general insurance products including, home, pet, car and travel insurance.

What do the experts say?

Dean Sobers, insurance expert at Which? said: ‘Brexit seems to be getting less and less predictable the closer we get to the date. While we’re spending time worrying about whether our passports will still work or which driving permits would be required, it’s also worth taking stock of whether your insurance arrangements are suitably robust.

‘Fortunately, we needn’t panic about our policies going up in smoke in a no-deal scenario.

‘Brexit presents a heightened risk of travel disruption – which means that disruption cover is more valuable to have. Not all travel insurance policies include this – and in some it’s an optional feature.

‘Additionally, some travellers have made savings by not insuring some of their more costly-to-cover medical conditions (knowing that access to public healthcare in Europe is available under Ehic). With continued access uncertain, you’ll need an insurance policy that can pick up the slack – so paying a little extra could be worth it.’

Huw Evans, Director of the ABI said: ‘As it looks increasingly possible that a no-deal Brexit may happen, we want all insurance customers to know the facts about what this means for them.

‘If you live in Northern Ireland and drive to the Republic of Ireland, or if you plan to drive your vehicle to mainland Europe after a no-deal Brexit, you will need a Green Card to prove you are insured. You should contact your insurer before you travel in order to get one. This advice applies to businesses as well as individuals.

‘Despite ‘no-deal’ uncertainty about the European Health Insurance Card (Ehic), I also want to reassure people that their travel insurance will continue to operate in the normal way when it comes to medical expenses, as emergency medical treatment is a standard feature. Customers should always double-check their travel insurance policy meets their full needs.

‘It remains the case that insurers do not want a no-deal Brexit; it would be bad for the economy and bad for our customers. We continue to hope these arrangements are never needed and urge the government, UK Parliament and EU27 to agree on an orderly way forward.

Stuart Lloyd, Travel Insurance Expert at insurer Columbus Direct: ‘In the event of a no-deal Brexit, there shouldn’t be an immediate increase in price, but over time there is likely to be some impact – particularly for European policy costs, which are likely to increase if we lose protection provided by the Ehic or a similar reciprocal health agreement.

‘Annual worldwide policies could also be affected because of the increased costs from those purchasing a worldwide policy, but taking trips within Europe as well.’

A spokesperson for insurer Saga said: ‘It is too early to tell what the future impact of Brexit will be on premiums, however, one thing that really concerns us is the effect that withdrawing the Ehic will have on people, particularly those with serious illnesses.

‘The Ehic currently enables people with serious medical conditions to travel and still receive treatment.

‘For example, kidney dialysis costs thousands of pounds a week and Ehic allows people to have the same treatment abroad for free, so they can enjoy a holiday without worrying about the cost of dialysis and the effect this might have on their insurance.

‘Losing Ehic, therefore, could affect this more vulnerable group of people, to the extent that they might find they are unable to travel at all.’

Additionally, many insurers, including Saga, waive a customer’s excess for medical expenses if they use their Ehic card abroad. Without an Ehic… it remains to be seen whether insurers will still be able to [do this].

A spokesperson from insurer NFU Mutual said: ‘Typically NFU Mutual customers insure their homes, farms, cars and much more in the United Kingdom, and customers with insurance policies for these UK risks won’t see any change to their cover.

‘Premiums increase and decrease for a variety of reasons but our members should not experience any immediate change to their premiums as a direct result of Brexit.’

What can you do?

Now more than ever, it’s vital to check the terms and conditions of your insurance policies and get in touch with your insurance providers.

While the FCA has advised insurance companies to clearly communicate any Brexit related changes to you, it’s vital you get ahead of the game and get in touch with them if you think you might be affected.

The government has issued advice that ‘you should make sure you understand the terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy, and that the policy is sufficient to cover possible disruption.’ This applies to your car insurance and pet policies too.

If you’re unclear about any of the details in your policies then call your insurance provider as soon as possible to get clarification and any additional documentation you might need.